Overview
- Rubio will meet Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday for a private audience that the U.S. requested, with both sides expecting a "frank" exchange.
- The visit follows Monday’s interview where Trump said the pope was fine with Iran getting a nuclear weapon and warned Leo was endangering Catholics.
- Leo rejected that charge on Tuesday, saying the Church has opposed all nuclear arms for years and that his task is to preach peace.
- Rubio has downplayed the feud and says he will press Iran’s nuclear threat while also discussing Cuba, humanitarian aid, and religious freedom.
- Vatican cardinal Pietro Parolin called Trump’s attacks "strange," and officials cast the talks as a bid to steady a relationship that shapes church-run aid and influences U.S. Catholic opinion.