Overview
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a private audience with Pope Leo XIV on Thursday at the Vatican, with the Holy See describing plans to address recent tensions and the war in Iran.
- Rubio is also meeting Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and, on Friday, Italian leaders including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has publicly defended the pope against Trump’s attacks.
- Pope Leo rejected Trump’s claim that he is “OK” with Iran having a nuclear weapon and restated that the Church opposes all nuclear arms and preaches peace rooted in the Gospel.
- Rubio downplayed the rift and said Trump’s comments sprang from concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while adding that his agenda includes Cuba aid distribution through the Church and global religious freedom.
- U.S. Ambassador Brian Burch and Cardinal Parolin signaled a willingness for a candid exchange, a reset that could steady ties with the Vatican and reassure European partners unsettled by the public dispute.