Pope Leo to meet US Secretary of State Rubio Thursday
Vatican to Host Meeting Between Pope Leo XIV and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
The Vatican announced Monday that Pope Leo XIV will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. The private meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. local time, according to a calendar published on the Vatican’s media site.
This meeting comes just weeks after Pope Leo XIV openly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, marking a notable point of contention between the Vatican and the Trump administration. The planned discussion appears aimed at improving relations between the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and the U.S. government.
In addition to his meeting with the pope, Rubio is set to engage with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during his visit to Rome. Reports indicate that Rubio has also requested a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a close ally of Trump, who has recently defended the pope.
Pope Leo XIV has been vocal on international conflicts and has increasingly critiqued the actions of political leaders, with his recent statements regarding the Trump administration being among his most direct to date.
This will mark the second encounter between the pope and Rubio, following a meeting in May 2025 when Rubio was received with U.S. Vice President JD Vance shortly after the pope’s election.
