'Unacceptable' Trump attack on Pope sends Rubio flying to Vatican for repairs
WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to the Vatican and Rome this week for a series of high-level meetings, as tensions simmer between Washington, the Holy See, and Italy following a public fallout involving President Donald Trump.
Rubio’s visit, scheduled from Wednesday, May 6, through Friday, will include an audience with Pope Leo XIV, an American-born pontiff, along with discussions with senior Vatican officials and Italian counterparts.
The US State Department said talks will focus on developments in the Middle East as well as shared priorities in the Western Hemisphere.
In Rome, Rubio is also expected to meet Italian officials to reinforce “shared security interests and strategic alignment,” in what is being seen as an effort to steady relations with a key European ally.
Diplomatic mission amid growing friction
The trip comes at a delicate moment, with US relations with both the Vatican and Italy under strain following a series of sharp exchanges involving Trump, the pope, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Rubio, himself a Catholic, is stepping into a complex diplomatic landscape shaped by ideological differences, geopolitical tensions, and unusually public rhetoric between leaders who have otherwise shared overlapping strategic interests.
Officials say the visit is aimed at re-establishing dialogue and preventing further deterioration in ties that could complicate coordination on global issues, including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Trump–Pope clash escalates
Relations between Washington and the Vatican took a downturn after Pope Leo XIV issued pointed criticism of Trump earlier this year.
The pontiff condemned the president’s social media threats against Iran’s civilization as “unacceptable” and urged citizens to pressure political leaders to pursue peace over war.
The remarks were followed by renewed scrutiny of Trump administration policies, including mass deportations, highlighted in a widely viewed television segment, further aggravating tensions.
Trump responded with a series of posts on his platform, criticizing the pope as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”
The dispute escalated when Trump shared an AI-generated image widely interpreted as depicting him in a Christ-like role, drawing backlash and accusations of blasphemy before it was removed.
The unusually direct exchange between a US president and a pontiff continued for more than a week, deepening the rift.
Trump-Meloni rift escalates over Pope
The controversy also spilled over into US-Italy relations after Meloni publicly defended the pope, calling Trump’s remarks “unacceptable.” Trump hit back, expressing disappointment in the Italian leader and questioning her stance.
Meloni, once seen as a close ideological ally of Trump, has in recent months taken more independent positions, including distancing herself from US and Israeli actions in the conflict with Iran. Her intervention in the dispute with the Vatican has further complicated diplomatic dynamics.
