Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to hold a “frank” discussion with Pope Leo XIV this week, according to U.S. officials, as tensions persist between the Vatican and President Donald Trump over the administration’s handling of the conflict with Iran.
Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, said open dialogue remains central to managing disagreements between nations, reported NBC News. “Nations have disagreements, and I think one of the ways that you work through those is … through fraternity and authentic dialogue,” Burch said Tuesday.
Burch said Rubio would approach the meeting in that same spirit. “I think the Secretary is coming here in that spirit. To have a frank conversation about U.S. policy, to engage in dialogue.”
The visit follows a series of public criticisms from Trump directed at the first American-born pope. In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump claimed the pope “would rather talk about the fact that it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” and suggested Leo’s position poses risks to Catholics and others. “I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people. But I guess if it’s up to the Pope, he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Leo has not endorsed Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. Instead, he has criticized the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran, which the Trump administration argues is necessary to counter Tehran’s nuclear program.
Rubio, a Catholic, previously met with the pope alongside Vice President JD Vance shortly after Leo’s inauguration last year. Those meetings were the only known cabinet-level engagements between the administration and the Vatican at the time.
Asked whether Rubio’s visit was intended to repair relations between Trump and the pope, Burch rejected the premise of a significant rupture, describing the trip as an effort to promote mutual understanding and address policy differences through discussion.
While in Italy, Rubio is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has publicly defended the pope. Italy’s defense minister has separately warned that the conflict with Iran could weaken U.S. global leadership.
Leo, marking the first anniversary of his papacy on Friday, initially took a restrained approach to global affairs after assuming office but has since become more vocal. He has criticized both U.S.-Israeli military actions in Iran and the Trump administration’s immigration policies, while also urging dialogue between the United States and Cuba to prevent escalation.
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