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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV received U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a private audience at the Vatican on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in what was widely described as a “fence-mending” visit following weeks of public sparring between President Donald Trump and the first American pontiff in history .
The meeting, which took place in the Apostolic Palace, lasted approximately 15 to 20 minutes and was described by Vatican and U.S. officials as “cordial.” According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, Rubio and Pope Leo discussed “the situation in the Middle East and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere. The meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity” .
Rubio, a practicing Catholic, was also scheduled to meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The discussions focused on “efforts to achieve a durable peace in the Middle East,” according to the State Department readout . The meetings, which collectively lasted approximately two and a half hours, come at a time when the United States is seeking to finalize a 14-point nuclear framework with Iran .
Background: A Strained Relationship
The pope and the president, both Americans from different generations, have clashed repeatedly since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on February 28, 2026. Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, was elected on May 8, 2025. The Trump administration initially celebrated his election. But the honeymoon ended when Leo began criticizing the administration’s immigration policies and, more recently, the U.S.-led military campaign in the Middle East .
In April, Trump launched a series of extraordinary attacks on Leo, calling him “WEAK on crime, and terrible for foreign policy” and claiming that the pope believes it is “OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon” . Leo has denied the accusation, stating that the Catholic Church “for years has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there” .
‘Be the Pacifier’ or ‘Candidate Repair’?
While the official purpose of the trip was framed as “peace in the Middle East” and “religious freedom,” Italian media and political commentators viewed the trip as a mission of “damage control” . Rubio, a prominent Catholic in the administration, has been thrust into the role of explaining Trump’s positions to allies who have been alienated by the president’s decisiveness .
Analysts also noted that Rubio’s visit served his political ambitions as a potential future presidential candidate, allowing him to showcase his statesmanship ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 election . Additionally, the agenda extended beyond the Middle East, with discussions covering Cuba and humanitarian aid to the island, a priority for Rubio, who is of Cuban descent .
Despite the diplomatic pleasantries, substantive differences remain. Pope Leo has consistently called for non-violence and a cessation of hostilities, while the Trump administration maintains that military pressure is necessary to prevent a nuclear Iran . After the meeting, Rubio was scheduled to travel to Rome to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, both of whom have criticized the Iran war .
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