Marco Rubio Heading To Italy To Speak With Pope Leo Amid Rising Tensions With Trump Admin

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to recreation to Italy this week for a highly anticipated gathering pinch Pope Leo, a Vatican root confirmed connected Sunday.

This brushwood marks nan first known in-person gathering betwixt nan pontiff and a U.S. furniture charismatic successful astir a year, occurring amidst President Donald Trump’s public criticisms of nan Catholic leader.

The meeting, expected to return spot connected Thursday, comes arsenic Pope Leo has emerged arsenic a vocal critic of nan U.S.-Israeli-led warfare pinch Iran, pursuing earlier condemnations of nan Trump administration’s stringent anti-immigration policies.

President Trump, successful turn, sharply criticized Leo connected societal media aggregate times successful April, astatine 1 constituent labeling nan pontiff "terrible" during Leo's four-nation Africa tour.

Rubio past met Pope Leo, nan first U.S. pope, successful May 2025, alongside Vice President JD Vance, attending his inaugural Mass and holding a backstage meeting. Pope Leo will people his first twelvemonth successful agency this Friday.

Beyond nan Vatican, Rubio is besides expected to prosecute pinch Italy’s overseas and defense ministers.

Italian nationalist dailies La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera reported that nan travel intends to alleviate tensions betwixt nan 2 nations, which arose aft President Trump’s blunt disapproval of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni past month.

It remains uncertain if Rubio will meet Meloni directly.

The negotiated sojourn follows nan Pentagon’s caller announcement of a drawdown of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, its largest European base.

This move underscores increasing strains successful U.S.-Europe relations, fueled by disagreements complete nan Iran warfare and tariff disputes.

Italy hosts a important U.S. subject presence, pinch astir 13,000 active-duty soldiers crossed six bases astatine nan extremity of 2025.

Official responses from nan U.S. State Department, Vatican property office, and an Italian authorities spokesperson regarding nan reports were not instantly available.