By The Opinion
Marco RubioUnited States Secretary of State, met this Thursday with Pope Leo XIV in it Vatican Apostolic Palacein a meeting described as “friendly” for him Department of State.
The conversation focused on the situation in the Middle East, specifically the war in Iran, humanitarian efforts in Latin America and the solidity of relations between Washington and the Holy See.
Rubio arrived in Rome weeks after President Donald Trump issued direct criticism of the Pope, calling him a “weak on crime and bad on foreign policy” for his calls for peace in the Middle East and his comments on the nuclear threat from Iran.
Establish peace in the Middle East
The Secretary of State highlighted that the visit was scheduled before these statements and was aimed at strengthening diplomatic cooperation between both governments.
According to an official statement, during the hearing of approximately forty five minutes, Rubio and Leo XIV addressed “the ongoing humanitarian efforts on the American continent” and discussed “initiatives to establish lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Furthermore, the dialogue underlined the constant partnership between United States and the Holy See in desire of religious freedom and human dignity.
The American Pope
Pope Leo XIV, dof American origin, he has a deep knowledge of Latin America after spending two decades as a missionary in Peru, where he obtained nationality.
His experience in the region has influenced the Vatican’s stance on issues such as Cuba, a country where Rubio has led diplomatic pressure on the communist government after Trump’s return to power.
After his meeting with the pontiffe, Rubio held a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State and number two of the Vatican.
Parolin clarified that the meeting was held at the initiative of Washington and that the central issues would be Latin America, Cuba and Lebanon. “We are going to listen to him,” the cardinal told reporters on Wednesday, highlighting that the conversation would take place in a context of diplomatic collaboration.
Tensions between Trump and the Vatican
The Trump Administration had had tensions with the Holy See since the election of the pope on May 8, 2025, first American pontiff in history.
Trump’s criticism intensified after the statements by the pontiff on the war in Iran Middle East and his rejection of threats against Iranas well as his statements on immigration.
Leo XIV reaffirmed the mission of the Church to “preach peace and the Gospel”. When questioned about Trump’s criticism, he said: “If anyone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so with the truth.
The Church has spoken for years against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt about that.” For his part, Parolin described it as “strange” that the pope was attacked for fulfilling his role.
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