US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived at Ciampino Airport in Rome on Thursday and is expected to meet Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace in an effort to ease tensions following repeated criticisms by Donald Trump of the first North American pontiff. The relationship between the Holy See and Washington has reached an unprecedented strain.
Rubio's Vatican Meeting
Rubio is scheduled to meet Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday morning, before holding a series of meetings with the Italian government. The visit comes after Trump accused the pope of supporting nuclear weapons and “endangering a lot of Catholics” with his stance against the Iran war. On Wednesday, Pope Leo responded: “If anyone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the gospel, let them do so with the truth: the church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that. I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of God’s word.” Rubio downplayed the rift, stating that Trump’s criticism was rooted in opposition to Iran potentially obtaining a nuclear weapon, which could threaten millions of Catholics worldwide.
Strained US-Vatican Relations
Relations between the Vatican and Washington have never been so fraught. In April, Trump lashed out at Pope Leo over the pope’s criticism of the war in Iran, branding him “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy”, and claiming he was elected only because Trump occupied the White House. Trump later shared, then deleted, an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure. Rubio’s goal is likely to smooth over Trump’s insults and repair damaged ties. Analysts expect him to defend Washington’s rationale for the Iran war while avoiding a direct clash with the church’s position.
Reactions from Vatican Officials
When asked whether he placed greater trust in Rubio or Trump, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told reporters: “I count on no one. I count only on our Lord Jesus Christ.” He added that Trump attacking Pope Leo “in this way, or reproaching him for what he does, seems rather strange, to say the least.”
Rubio's Talks with Italian Government
Rubio will meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, as relations between Rome and Washington have also deteriorated. Political historian Lorenzo Castellani noted that Trump’s attacks on the pope have provoked widespread outrage in Italy, where the papacy plays a crucial role in political and cultural imagination. This has “effectively forced Meloni to distance herself from the US president,” despite earlier this year expressing hope that Trump would receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Some Italian newspapers suggest Rubio’s goal is not to mend relations but to reassert Trump’s position after the president accused Meloni of lacking courage for refusing to join the US campaign against Iran.
Impact on Italian Public Opinion
According to Castellani, Meloni’s shift from being a staunch Trump ally to adopting a more critical stance is driven by political and electoral considerations. “For the first time since the second world war, foreign policy has become a central concern for Italian public opinion,” he said. “This shift began with the war in Ukraine, but the current crisis represents a decisive escalation. The reason is simple: this is a conflict with direct geopolitical and economic consequences for Italy and for Europe as a whole.” He added that recent polling suggests broad agreement across the political spectrum in condemning Trump’s position, with as much as 80-90% of the electorate sharing this sentiment.
Future of US Military Presence in Italy
The talks are also expected to address the future of approximately 13,000 US military personnel stationed across seven naval bases in Italy. When asked last week whether he would consider pulling US troops out of Italy, Trump told reporters: “Probably … Italy has not been of any help to us.”
