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Rubio Meets Pope Leo as Both Sides Vow to Improve U.S.–Vatican Relations

The cordial session signals a U.S. push to cool tensions with a pope prioritizing peace and migrant outreach.

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In this handout photo provided by Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV greets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, upon his arrival for talks in the pope's private library at the Vatican, Thursday, May 7, 2026. Vatican Media via AP
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Leo gives a speech criticizing world leaders for what he described as spending billions on "killing and devastation," at a meeting in St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on April 16.

Overview

  • - The Vatican, which hosted Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, said the two sides pledged to improve bilateral relations in an unusual public nod to recent strain.
  • - Rubio called the conversation with Pope Leo cordial and said they discussed the Iran war and Western Hemisphere issues, while readouts stressed cooperation but announced no specific agreements.
  • - Marking his first year as pope in Pompei on Friday, Leo urged prayers for leaders to calm tensions and warned that peace is threatened by an economy that favors the arms trade over human life.
  • - The meeting followed weeks of public criticism from President Donald Trump over Leo’s opposition to the Iran war and his stance on migration, a dispute that has pressured both governments to manage the rift.
  • - Looking ahead, the Vatican confirmed a June 6–12 visit to Spain that includes Tenerife and Gran Canaria to meet migrants, plus a July 4 stop in Lampedusa, spotlighting deadly sea routes where an NGO reported more than 3,000 deaths in 2025.