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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.

Rubio makes fence-mending visit to the Vatican after Trump's broadsides against Pope Leo XIV

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a fence-mending visit to the Vatican on Thursday to underscore strong bilateral ties, after U.S. President Trump's broadsides against Pope Leo XIV for his opposition to the Iran war angered the Holy See and sparked ongoing sparring between them.

Rubio and Pope Leo meet at the Vatican to discuss Middle East after weeks of tension

Updated on: May 7, 2026 / 9:52 AM EDT / CBS News

Marco Rubio heads to the Vatican as 2028 presidential buzz ramps up

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a frontrunner to succeed President Donald Trump in 2028, and Trump is sending him to meet with Pope Leo XIV.

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.

Rubio meets with Pope Leo as Washington-Vatican tension simmers

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV on Thursday amid strain between Washington and the Vatican.