Rubio, Pope Leo XIV discuss Middle East crisis at Vatican
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, with discussions centred on the Middle East crisis, humanitarian concerns and bilateral relations between Washington and the Holy See.
According to the US State Department, the talks highlighted the “strong relationship” between the United States and the Vatican, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, religious freedom and human dignity.
Rubio also held separate talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, where discussions focused on humanitarian efforts in the Western Hemisphere and ways to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Rubio welcomed the arrival of Archbishop Christophe Pierre Caccia as the new Apostolic Nuncio to the United States during the meetings.
In a statement, the Vatican described the discussions as “cordial,” noting that both parties reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining positive bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States.
The Vatican said the talks covered major international and regional issues, including armed conflicts, political instability and humanitarian crises in parts of Africa and the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon and Iran.
The situation in Cuba was also discussed amid renewed tensions between Washington and Havana.
Rubio arrived in Rome earlier on Thursday under heavy security ahead of meetings with Vatican officials and Italian leaders. He was accompanied by US Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch and received at the Vatican by Monsignor Petar Rajic, prefect of the Papal Household.
The US secretary of state is also expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday at Palazzo Chigi as part of broader diplomatic engagements involving the US, Europe and the Vatican on global security issues.
The Vatican meeting came amid growing tensions between the White House and the Holy See following recent remarks by US President Donald Trump concerning the pope’s position on Iran.
In a radio interview earlier this week, Trump accused the pontiff of “endangering a lot of Catholics” and claimed the pope believed Iran should possess nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters later, Trump said he instructed Rubio to tell the pope “very respectfully” that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
The president also accused Iran of killing thousands of protesters during previous demonstrations, urging Rubio to relay the message directly to the pontiff.
Rubio’s visit also follows Trump’s criticism of Italy, a NATO ally, after the US president suggested he could consider withdrawing American troops from the country, saying Italy “has not been of any help to us.”
