Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday at 11:30 am (0930 GMT) at the Vatican, according to an official calendar published by the Holy See’s media office.
The private meeting comes at a sensitive moment in Vatican–US relations, following recent criticism of the Pope by US President Donald Trump. Vatican sources cited by AFP described the engagement as part of efforts to “thaw” relations between the pontiff and the US government.
Rubio, a Catholic and one of Trump’s top diplomatic figures, is also expected to hold separate meetings with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during his visit to Rome. He has additionally requested a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a key European ally of Trump.
Pope Leo XIV has recently become more vocal on global political and humanitarian issues, including international conflicts and military actions. Last month, he issued what observers described as his strongest public criticism yet of the Trump administration’s policies.
In response, Trump launched a sharp attack on the Pope, questioning his stance on crime prevention and accusing him of “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon,” referencing Iran. The US president also sparked controversy after sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
Thursday’s engagement will mark the second known meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Rubio. The two previously met in May 2025 at the Vatican shortly after Leo’s election, during a visit that also included US Vice President JD Vance.
The upcoming discussions are expected to focus on diplomatic relations, global security concerns, and ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States and other international actors.
