Reports of US Senator Marco Rubio Meeting Non-Existent Pope Surface

Reports emerged Thursday that U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with a Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City [1, 2].

These reports are significant because they suggest a high-level diplomatic effort to reduce tensions between the United States and the Holy See. However, the accounts contain fundamental factual errors regarding the identity of the pontiff and the official role of the U.S. representative.

According to several sources, the meeting took place on May 7, 2026 [3, 4]. The purported goal of the visit was to alleviate diplomatic friction between the U.S. government and the Vatican [5, 6]. Some reports said the encounter was friendly and constructive ^[5], while other accounts said an awkward moment occurred regarding a gift Rubio presented to the Pope.

Despite these claims, the identity of the Pope mentioned in the reports is contradicted by historical and official records. There is no record of a Pope Leo XIV; the current pontiff is Pope Francis. Furthermore, some sources misidentified Senator Rubio as the U.S. Secretary of State ^[7], a position he does not hold.

Additional contradictions exist regarding who actually visited the Vatican. While some reports name Rubio, other accounts said María Corina Machado was the individual who met with the Pope ^[8]. These discrepancies suggest a lack of verification in the initial reporting of the event.

The Apostolic Palace serves as the official residence of the Pope and the site of many diplomatic receptions ^[2]. The conflicting nature of these reports highlights a disconnect between the narrative provided by certain media outlets and the established public records of the Vatican and the U.S. government.