Léon XIV and the US Secretary of State had a “friendly and constructive” meeting of just over 45 minutes, according to a State Department official speaking on condition of anonymity. Marco Rubio was received at the Apostolic Palace with all the honors usually reserved for heads of state and government, according to a source familiar with the current protocol, in a clear Vatican’s willingness to play a role in appeasement.
Marco Rubio, a devout Catholic himself, then met with the Secretary of State and number 2 of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. “They reviewed the ongoing humanitarian efforts in the Western hemisphere and the initiatives aimed at establishing lasting peace in the Middle East,” the State Department said. “Their discussions reflected the strong and steady partnership between the United States and the Holy See in support of religious freedom.”
The Vatican, for its part, stated that the talks also focused on “the need to tirelessly work for peace.” “The shared commitment to maintaining good bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America was reaffirmed. A discussion then followed […] paying particular attention to countries affected by war, political tensions, and difficult humanitarian situations, as well as the need to tirelessly work for peace,” according to a statement from the Vatican.
Before his visit, Marco Rubio sought to downplay the recent criticism from the American president towards the pope, amid the war in the Middle East and the fight against immigration. “We will listen to him,” said Mgr. Parolin to journalists on Wednesday, emphasizing that the meeting was Washington’s initiative. But attacking the pope “is a bit strange. The pope plays his role,” Pietro Parolin stated.
Far from the euphoria of the early days, the relations with the Holy See have seriously deteriorated, with President Trump criticizing Pope León XIV as “weak” in tackling crime and “ineffective” in foreign policy, sparking outrage among Catholics and several heads of state. The pope responded saying he is not “afraid” of the Trump administration and has a “moral duty to speak out” against war.
León XIV believes that “it would not be a problem for Iran to have nuclear weapons,” reiterated the Republican leader in an interview with a conservative podcaster last Monday, accusing the pope of “endangering many Catholics and many people.” The pope responded by saying: “If anyone wants to criticize me for preaching the gospel, let them do it honestly. The Church has been opposing all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that.”
In addition to his positions on immigration, it is his increasingly pacifist discourse, especially after the start of American-Israeli attacks against Iran, that has sparked Donald Trump’s anger. León XIV has labeled Trump’s threat to destroy Iran as “unacceptable.”
Another hot topic, Cuba, was also discussed during the meetings on Thursday, confirmed a State Department official. “Our work with the Catholic Church and Caritas in Cuba was discussed,” the official said on condition of anonymity. The United States provides humanitarian aid to Cuba through a strict channel that goes through the local Catholic Church.
