Vatican Gives Marco Rubio No Cover After Pope Leo Meeting

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio left a prominent meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday. Both sides exchanged polite words, but the pope didn’t provide much public support after President Donald Trump’s recent attacks.

Rubio met with Leo at the Apostolic Palace during a trip to Rome. This followed Trump accusing the pope of backing nuclear weapons and “endangering a lot of Catholics” due to his stance on the war in Iran.

On Wednesday, Leo denied that accusation, stating that the Catholic Church has always opposed nuclear weapons and that he spoke from the Gospel’s call for peace.

After the meeting, the Vatican issued a statement that did not support Rubio or change its recent public stance.

Instead, the Holy See described the talks as “cordial” and renewed “the shared commitment to fostering sound bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America.” They discussed countries facing war, political tensions, and humanitarian crises, along with “the need to work tirelessly for peace.”

The statement focused on conflicts and humanitarian issues, including nations in Africa and the Middle East, such as Lebanon and Iran. Vatican News also reported that Cuba was mentioned during the discussions, amid rising tensions between Washington and Havana.

The State Department framed the meeting more positively. A spokesman said Rubio and Leo talked about the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. delegation also characterized the talks as a sign of the strong relationship between Washington and the Holy See.

The meeting lasted as Rubio attempted to address a growing personal dispute. Reuters reported that he spent around 2.5 hours at the Vatican, meeting with senior officials, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's secretary of state and top diplomat.

Vatican video showed Leo greeting Rubio formally as “Mr. Secretary.” Rubio, a Catholic, replied, “Great to see you.” The two exchanged gifts, highlighting the difference in tone between Washington's political message and the Vatican’s focus on peace.

Rubio gave Leo a small crystal football and joked about the Chicago-born pope being more of a “baseball guy.” Leo presented Rubio with a small pen made from olive wood, referring to it as “the plant of peace.”

This exchange followed Parolin’s defense of Leo before Rubio's arrival. When asked whether he trusted Rubio or Trump, Parolin said, “I count on no one. I count only on our Lord Jesus Christ.” He also called Trump’s criticism of Leo “rather strange.”

Earlier in the week, Trump had attacked Leo while Rubio prepared for his Vatican visit. The president claimed the pope supported Iran getting nuclear weapons, a claim that Leo rejected. The pope told reporters that anyone criticizing him for proclaiming the Gospel should do so “with the truth,” noting that the church had opposed nuclear weapons for years.

Before the meeting, Rubio expressed his intent to discuss Cuba and religious freedom with Leo. Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, indicated the talks would likely be “frank.”

Rubio’s visit marked the first meeting between Leo and a Trump Cabinet official in nearly a year, according to Reuters. This encounter occurred as Trump has yet to meet with Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, since he took on the role as head of the Catholic Church.

Rubio is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday. Meloni has defended Leo against Trump’s criticisms, as relations between Washington and Rome have also be strained by the war in Iran and Trump’s remarks about Italy's role.