May 7, 2026
Rubio arrives for audience with Pope Leo XIV to ease tensions after Trump's criticism over Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened a fence-mending visit to the Vatican on Thursday after President Trump's broadsides against Pope Leo XIV and the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran angered the Holy See and sparked ongoing sparring between the two American leaders.
TL;DR
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a visit to the Vatican.
- The visit is intended to mend relations and ease tensions.
- Tensions arose due to President Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
- President Trump also criticized the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.
- These actions angered the Holy See and caused public disagreements between Trump and Rubio.