Marco Rubio met Pope Leo at the Vatican in an effort to ease growing tensions between the White House and the Catholic Church over war and diplomacy.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday as Washington sought to repair strained relations following repeated criticism of the pontiff by President Donald Trump.
The talks focused on the Middle East crisis, humanitarian efforts and religious freedom. According to the State Department, both sides reaffirmed their “shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity.”
Tensions between the Vatican and the White House have escalated after Pope Leo criticised the Iran war and challenged the administration’s use of religion to justify military action. A senior Vatican official described Trump’s remarks against the pope as unprecedented, saying, “I don’t think such tones have ever been used.”
Rubio’s visit comes as Trump’s approval among U.S. Catholics reportedly declines ahead of the midterm elections.
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