Rubio spent 2 hours with Pope Leo at the Vatican to discuss Iran and Cuba after Trump attacked him

VATICAN CITY: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, May 7, for talks focused on the Middle East and broader regional issues, according to the State Department. The meeting marked the first formal audience between the Pope and a senior Trump administration official in nearly a year.

Officials said the discussions underscored the relationship between Washington and the Holy See, even as recent disagreements over the Iran conflict have strained ties. Rubio’s visit also included meetings with senior Vatican officials as part of his diplomatic trip to Europe.

Middle East and Western Hemisphere issues top agenda

The State Department said Rubio and Pope Leo discussed “the situation in the Middle East and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere,” signaling continued engagement between the US and the Vatican on key international issues.

A State Department spokesperson said the talks highlighted “the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity.”

Rubio spent more than two hours inside the Apostolic Palace, according to the press pool, though the exact length of his private meeting with the pope was not disclosed. 

The visit was also expected to include talks with senior Vatican officials, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Before the meeting, Rubio said he planned to discuss Cuba as well, noting the Trump administration’s humanitarian aid efforts on the island through Catholic Church channels.

He also pointed to broader concerns over religious freedom and humanitarian conditions in parts of the Western Hemisphere.

The Vatican has historically played a significant diplomatic role in regional conflicts and humanitarian negotiations, particularly in Latin America and the Middle East, making the meeting a notable point of contact as tensions persist in both regions.

Meeting comes after public tensions over Iran war

Rubio’s Vatican visit follows weeks of public disagreements between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo over the US-backed war involving Iran.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the pope’s opposition to military escalation and his public calls for peace negotiations.

Pope Leo, who marks his first year as pontiff this week, has maintained that his position is rooted in the Church’s longstanding emphasis on peace and diplomacy.

He has rejected suggestions that his calls for restraint imply support for nuclear weapons, reiterating that the Church opposes all nuclear arms.

Trump has accused the pontiff of being weak on foreign policy, while the Vatican has defended Leo’s remarks as part of his pastoral and diplomatic role. Cardinal Parolin also publicly backed the pope this week, calling criticism of him “strange.”