Vatican peace talks with Marco Rubio reflect strains after Trump criticism of Pope Leo XIV

The Vatican and the United States highlighted peace and close ties during talks on Thursday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV and senior Vatican officials in Rome. The visit followed fresh strain after President Donald Trump criticised the pope over the Iran war. Both sides later pointed to shared priorities on diplomacy and humanitarian issues.

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Rubio, a practising Catholic, held an audience with Leo before meeting Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Parolin is the Vatican secretary of state and its top diplomat. The meetings came after Trump’s repeated attacks on Leo’s calls for peace and dialogue. Rubio has often faced pressure to explain or soften Trump’s sharp public remarks.

Vatican peace talks with Marco Rubio

The Vatican said the talks reaffirmed good bilateral relations with the United States of America. It said the two sides compared views on current events and crisis areas. It highlighted places facing war, political tension, and severe humanitarian conditions. The statement also stressed "the need to work tirelessly in favor of peace.\"

The US State Department said Rubio and Parolin discussed aid work in the Western Hemisphere. It also cited efforts aimed at \"a durable peace in the Middle East.\" It added that their discussion reflected an enduring partnership with the Holy See. It said the talks also covered cooperation to advance religious freedom.

In a separate readout, spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio and Leo discussed the Middle East and the Western Hemisphere. Pigott said: \"The meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity,\" he said. The Vatican also confirmed a similar focus for both meetings.

Trump criticism of Pope Leo XIV and the Iran war

The tensions began last month when Trump attacked Leo on social media. Trump said the pope was soft on crime and terrorism. Trump linked the criticism to Leo’s comments on immigration policies, deportations, and the Iran war. Leo later responded by saying that God doesnt listen to the prayers of those who wage war.

Trump later posted an image that appeared to compare Trump with Jesus Christ. The post was deleted after backlash. Trump has not apologised to Leo. Trump later said the image was meant to show Trump as a doctor. The latest criticism of the Chicago-born pope complicated Rubio’s audience at the last minute.

On Wednesday, Parolin publicly defended Leo and questioned Trump’s approach. \"Attacking him like that or criticising what he does seems a bit strange to me, to say the least,\" Parolin said Wednesday. The comment came on the eve of Rubio’s Rome visit. Parolin then met Rubio during the 2½-hour visit.

Rubio said Trump’s recent criticism reflected opposition to Iran gaining nuclear weapons. Rubio said such weapons could be used against millions of Catholics and other Christians. Leo has never backed Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. The Catholic Church has long opposed nuclear weapons. Leo replied late Tuesday: \"The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. If someone wants to criticise me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth,\" Leo said late Tuesday, after Trump again accused him of being OK with Iran having a nuclear weapon.

Marco Rubio meeting Pope Leo XIV: gifts and tone

By Thursday, the atmosphere appeared calmer, and gifts were exchanged. Rubio gave Leo a small crystal football paperweight. Rubio referred to Leo’s known support for the Chicago White Sox. Rubio said: \"youre a baseball guy,\" but noted the football carried the State Department seal. Rubio also joked: \"What to get someone who has everything?\"

Leo gave Rubio a pen said to be made of olive wood. Leo linked it to symbolism, saying \"olive being of course the plant of peace, Leo said\". Leo also gave a book of Vatican artworks. The exchange followed days of public dispute between Trump and the pope. Officials on both sides still emphasised continuing cooperation.

Italy meetings and NATO tensions linked to the Iran war

Rubio also planned meetings on Friday with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Those talks may remain difficult for Washington’s top diplomat. Both leaders have defended Leo against Trump’s attacks. Meloni and Tajani also criticised the Iran war as illegal. Their stance has drawn Trump’s anger.

Trump has also criticised Meloni and other NATO allies over support for the Iran war. Trump recently announced plans to withdraw thousands of American troops from Germany. The move is expected in the coming months. The broader disputes have added pressure to Rubio’s European meetings. The Vatican discussions came amid this wider diplomatic friction.

Vatican dialogue view and Rubio political ambitions claims

Giampiero Gramaglia, a former head of the ANSA news agency, played down likely outcomes from the visit. Gramaglia said Italian and Vatican relations may not see major change. Gramaglia suggested Rubio instead aimed to ease papal tensions for domestic politics. Gramaglia cited the midterm US congressional elections and the 2028 race.

Gramaglia told Italy’s Foreign Press Association: \"I doubt Rubio has the role of conciliator for Trump,\" he told Italys Foreign Press Association. \"I have the perception that Rubios mission is more about himself and his political ambitions as a prominent Catholic Republican.\" Other Italian commentators made similar claims about Rubio’s aims.

The Rev. Antonio Spadaro, undersecretary in the Vatican’s culture office, gave a different reading. Spadaro said Rubio’s goal was not to bring the pope to Trump’s side. Spadaro wrote that Washington now sees Leo’s global influence as hard to dismiss. Spadaro described a need for direct diplomacy after Trump’s remarks.

Cuba agenda in Marco Rubio Vatican talks

Rubio said the talks also covered issues beyond the Iran war, including Cuba. The Holy See is concerned by threats of possible military action there. This followed Trump’s January ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump has said Cuba could be next. Trump suggested naval assets might later return to the US via Cuba.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long taken a hard line on Cuba. Rubio said humanitarian assistance faced distribution barriers. Rubio said: \"We gave Cuba USD 6 million of humanitarian aid, but obviously they wont let us distribute it,\" Rubio said. \"We distributed it through the church. Wed like to do more.\"

After the Thursday meetings, both sides presented the talks as steady and practical. The Vatican stressed dialogue on conflict zones and humanitarian strain. The US side pointed to cooperation on religious freedom and regional aid. Rubio’s schedule then moved to meetings with Italy’s leadership. The exchanges left the peace message central to the visit.

With inputs from PTI