Adedokun Waliyu 
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday visited the Vatican for high-level talks with Pope Leo XIV amid rising tensions between the White House and the Holy See over international conflicts and diplomatic policies.
Rubio’s visit comes weeks after US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Pope Leo over the pontiff’s anti-war position, particularly concerning the Middle East conflict and nuclear tensions involving Iran.
The meeting, held at the Vatican, marked a significant diplomatic engagement between Washington and the Catholic Church following months of strained relations. Rubio, a devout Catholic, was also scheduled to hold talks with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
Observers described the meeting as an effort to ease growing disagreements between both sides. The US ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, had earlier indicated that discussions would likely involve “frank conversations” on recent developments.
Relations between the Trump administration and the Vatican reportedly deteriorated after Pope Leo repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East and condemned threats of military escalation. The pontiff described comments attributed to Trump regarding Iran as “truly unacceptable,” prompting sharp reactions from the US president.
In response, Trump accused the pope of being “weak on crime” and criticised his foreign policy views. He further alleged that Pope Leo’s position on Iran could endanger global security, claims the Vatican strongly rejected.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Rubio said the visit had already been planned before the public disagreement but acknowledged that “there’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican,” including issues relating to religious freedom and global peace efforts.
The Vatican confirmed that discussions would also focus on international matters such as Latin America, Cuba, and Lebanon. Pope Leo, who spent over two decades serving as a missionary in Peru and later obtained Peruvian citizenship, is considered deeply knowledgeable about Latin American affairs.
Responding to criticisms earlier in the week, Pope Leo maintained that the Church’s mission remains centered on peace and the Gospel.
“If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully,” the pope stated, reaffirming the Catholic Church’s longstanding opposition to nuclear weapons.
Vatican Secretary of State Parolin also defended the pontiff, saying, “The pope is being the pope,” while describing attacks on the Church leader as unusual.
Analysts believe Pope Leo’s American nationality has amplified his influence in Washington, especially on issues such as immigration, war, and international diplomacy, areas where he has openly challenged some policies of the Trump administration.
