Rubio in Italy to Meet Pope Leo XIV Amid Trump Diplomatic CrisisUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Italy for a series of high-level diplomatic meetings, including a scheduled audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, followed by talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday.
The visit comes in the wake of a significant diplomatic crisis sparked by recent public statements from former US President Donald Trump, which were critical of the leader of the Catholic Church. The primary objective of Secretary Rubio's trip is to "reconcile the ties" between the United States and the Vatican following the fallout from these remarks.
The meetings represent a direct effort by the US administration to manage and mend a key international relationship that has been strained by the recent controversy.