Overview
- Rubio and Pope Leo XIV met Thursday at the Vatican and closed with a symbolic gift exchange as both sides stressed peace, human dignity and strong ties.
- Officials described the session as cordial, pointing to a cooling of the public dispute rather than any change in policy.
- The meeting followed Trump’s claim that the Pope was “okay” with an Iranian nuclear weapon, a charge Leo rejected by noting the Church opposes all nuclear arms.
- Italy defended the Pope, and after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s earlier rebuke, Trump criticized her and reportedly raised a partial U.S. troop pullout.
- Rubio also met Cardinal Pietro Parolin to discuss the Middle East, Cuba and religious freedom, and officials announced no concrete shifts after the talks.