Overview
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to be in Rome and the Vatican on May 7–8 for talks, according to Italian newspapers and a Vatican source.
- A meeting with Pope Leo is expected on Thursday, with additional talks planned with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
- Italian outlets say the visit aims to cool tensions after President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo in April over his anti‑war stance and rebuked Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for defending the pontiff.
- The trip follows Friday’s Pentagon decision to pull 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany as disputes over the Iran war and tariffs strain ties with Europe, while Italy hosts roughly 13,000 American troops.
- Officials in Washington, the Holy See and Rome have not confirmed details, and a meeting with Meloni remains uncertain, though the talks could reopen steady channels between the U.S., the Vatican and Italy.