Overview
- The Vatican and the State Department say Secretary of State Marco Rubio will have a private audience with Pope Leo on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Apostolic Palace.
- The State Department says talks with Holy See leaders will focus on the Middle East and shared interests in the Western Hemisphere.
- Rubio is also set to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Italy’s foreign and defense ministers, and Italian officials indicate a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is likely.
- The trip follows weeks of President Trump’s public attacks on the pope over his anti-war stance and recent threats to cut U.S. forces in Europe after a 5,000‑troop drawdown from Germany.
- The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See said Tuesday the secretary expects a “frank” conversation and is traveling to open dialogue after recent strains.