Rubio visits Rome aiming to repair White House ties with Pope Leo 85%
By Anthony Faiola0% Stefano Pitrelli0% Adam Taylor0%
5/7/2026, 6:57:18 AM
Keywords: Pope Leo Xiv, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Vatican, White House, Iran War, U S Vatican Relations
BS Summary: This article contains 24 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Emotion, Halo Effect, and Appeal to Authority, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 34.6% saturation with 275 hits. Analysis detected 1,626 faulty-reasoning hits from 794 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 77.3% and a BS Rank of 85% (2,673 of 16,813 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 84.10% of the article peer group.
ROME — Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Thursday with Pope Leo XIV with relations between the Vatican and the White House at a low point over President Donald Trump’s repeated, direct criticism of the U.S.-born pontiff who has emerged as a leading global critic of the war in Iran and of the administration’s invocation of God in pursuing military action that has resulted in the deaths of thousands.
The State Department said the pair discussed the “situation in the Middle East and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere” on Thursday.
The meeting, which lasted about 45 minutes, was Rubio’s first with the pope since he was elevated to the position of secretary of state and acting White House national security adviser in January.
It came amid a broader effort by the administration to repair ties with the Vatican, which have deteriorated since Trump took office in 2025.
Trump has repeatedly lashed out at the pope, accusing him of being “anti-American” and “a disgrace to the Catholic Church” for his criticism of the U.S. military campaign in Iran, which began in late 2025 and has drawn widespread international condemnation.
Pope Leo, born Leo Francis O’Brien in Chicago, has been one of the most vocal critics of the war, calling it “immoral” and “a stain on humanity” in a series of speeches and encyclicals.
He has also questioned the administration’s use of religious rhetoric to justify the conflict, saying in a recent address that “no war can be holy.”
The pontiff’s stance has resonated with many American Catholics, whose support for Trump has declined sharply since the war began.
A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 38 percent of U.S.
Catholics approve of the president’s handling of foreign policy, down from 62 percent in 2024.
Vatican officials have described the current state of U.S.-Vatican relations as the worst since the 1980s, when tensions arose over the Reagan administration’s support for anti-communist insurgencies in Central America.
“Pope Leo is not just a spiritual leader; he’s a moral authority on the world stage,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who has been a vocal supporter of the pontiff.
“When the president attacks him personally, it’s not just an insult to the pope — it’s an insult to the faith of millions of Americans.”
Rubio, a devout Catholic who has long been seen as a potential bridge between the administration and the Vatican, has sought to downplay the rift.
In a briefing after the meeting, he described the pope as “a man of great wisdom and compassion” and said the two men had a “frank and productive” discussion.
“We agree on many things, and where we disagree, we respect each other’s views,” Rubio said.
“The Holy Father and I both want peace in the Middle East, and we both believe that dialogue is the path forward.”
But the secretary’s comments did little to assuage concerns at the Vatican.
Sources close to the pope said Leo was “disappointed” by Trump’s continued attacks and had hoped for a more conciliatory tone from the administration.
The meeting also touched on other issues, including the situation in Cuba, where Rubio has been pushing for tougher sanctions against the communist government.
The pope has been a vocal advocate for improved relations with Havana and has criticized the U.S. embargo as “unjust.”
Despite the tensions, Rubio’s visit was seen as a positive step by some observers.
“It’s important that the lines of communication remain open,” said Michael Sean Winters, a columnist for the National Catholic Reporter.
“The Vatican and the White House need to be able to talk, even when they disagree.”
The trip comes at a delicate moment for the administration, which is facing growing domestic and international criticism over the Iran war.
Trump has vowed to end the conflict “very soon,” but military analysts say the U.S. is no closer to achieving its objectives than when the campaign began.
In recent weeks, the president has escalated his rhetoric against the pope, calling him a “fake Christian” and accusing him of “siding with terrorists.”
The attacks have drawn condemnation from Catholic leaders across the political spectrum, including some of Trump’s most loyal supporters.
“Pope Leo is speaking truth to power, and that’s what prophets do,” said Bishop Robert Barron, a prominent Trump ally.
“The president would do well to listen rather than lash out.”
As Rubio wrapped up his visit, the pontiff issued a brief statement thanking the secretary for his “cordial words” and expressing hope that “our shared commitment to peace and justice will guide our future cooperation.”
But with Trump’s criticism showing no signs of abating, the path forward for U.S.-Vatican relations remains uncertain.
Analysis
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