May 7, 2026
Rubio holds ‘constructive’ meeting with Pope Leo after Trump sends hard-line Iran message to Vatican
Rubio and Pope Leo held a private Vatican meeting to ease tensions between the Trump administration and the pontiff over the U.S.-Iran conflict.
TL;DR
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Vatican for "friendly and constructive" conversations.
- The meeting aimed to reaffirm the Vatican-U.S. partnership after heightened tensions between President Trump and the pontiff over the U.S.-Iran conflict.
- Rubio conveyed President Trump's message that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
- Discussions included the situation in the Middle East, topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere, and a shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity.
- The pope has previously criticized rhetoric targeting Iran's population, calling it "unacceptable" and a "moral issue."
- Rubio also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state of the Holy See, to discuss shared priorities regarding Iran and advancing religious freedom.