Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States, met this Thursday with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, in a meeting described as “friendly” by the State Department.

The conversation focused on the situation in the Middle East, specifically the war in Iran, humanitarian efforts in Latin America, and the strength of relations between Washington and the Holy See.

Rubio arrived in Rome weeks after President Donald Trump issued direct criticisms against the Pope, calling him “weak in mater ia of crime and terrible for foreign politics” 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 those statements and was aimed at strengthening diplomatic cooperation between both governments.

According to an official statement, during the approximately 45-minute hearing, Rubio and Leon XIV addressed “ongoing humanitarian efforts on the American continent” and discussed “initiatives to establish lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Furthermore, the dialogue underscored the ongoing partnership between the United States and the Holy See in favor of religious freedom and human dignity.

The American Pope

Pope Leo XIV, of American origin, 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 pontiff, Rubio held a meeting with cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state and number two of the Vatican.

Parolin clarified that the appointment was held at Washington's initiative and that the central issues would be Latin America, Cuba and Lebanon. “Let's get esc uch it,” the cardinal told journalists on Wednesday, highlighting that the conversation would take place in a context of diplomatic collaboration.

Tensions between Trump and the Vatican

The Trump Government had had tensions with the Holy See since the election of the pope on 8 May 2025, the first American pontiff in history.

Trump's criticism intensified following the pontiff's statements regarding the Iran Middle East and his rejection of threats against Iran, as well as his pronouncements on immigration.

Leo

The Church has spoken for years against all nuclear weapons, so there's no doubt about that."