Pope Leo XIV to Meet U.S. Secretary of State Rubio

Pope Leo XIV will meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday at the Vatican, as confirmed by a Vatican source on Sunday.

The meeting is set for 11:30 AM local time (09:30 GMT) and aims to thaw relations between the Catholic Church and the U.S. government, which represents over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. Rubio is also expected to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, against whom the Pope has voiced increasing criticism regarding international conflicts and nuclear weapons, particularly in reference to Iran.

This visit marks the second time Rubio has met with a Vatican official, following a previous meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance shortly after Leo XIV's election.

The Pope's recent critiques of political actions, including those of the Trump administration, have been forthright, emphasizing the need for moral leadership.