Marco Rubio is set to visit Rome and the Vatican City later this week, according to an Italian government source, in a move seen as an effort to ease recent tensions between Washington and the Catholic leadership.
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During the Thursday–Friday visit, Rubio — a practising Catholic — is expected to meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin as well as Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Italian media also reported that he may hold talks with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto.
The diplomatic outreach comes weeks after a public rift between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV. The tensions were sparked by the pope’s criticism of US foreign policy, particularly his opposition to military actions and strong anti-war stance following the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran.
Since assuming leadership of the Catholic Church in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV has also criticised US immigration policies, further straining relations with the Trump administration.
Trump responded sharply to the pope’s remarks, calling him “weak on crime” and criticising his foreign policy views. He also took aim at Giorgia Meloni after she defended the pontiff, questioning her leadership and suggesting she had failed to support US strategic interests.
Italian media have framed Rubio’s upcoming visit as an attempt to “thaw” relations between the United States, the Vatican, and Italy amid growing geopolitical tensions.
The dispute has also extended to defence matters, with Trump warning of potential troop withdrawals from European allies, including Italy, and already announcing a reduction of US forces in Germany.
