U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to the Vatican and Italy this week for a series of meetings, according to Italian media reports, in a visit that comes amid strained relations between Washington and parts of Europe and heightened tensions involving Pope Leo XIV.
Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera reported that Rubio, who is Catholic, is likely to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s chief diplomat. It remains unclear whether he will also meet Pope Leo XIV.
Rubio last met the pope in May 2025 alongside Vice President JD Vance, when both attended the inaugural Mass in St Peter’s Square and later held private talks with the pontiff.
In recent weeks, Pope Leo has taken a more visible role on the global stage. He has criticised the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran and voiced strong opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
President Donald Trump also drew attention in April after criticising the pope on social media, at one point calling him “terrible”.
During the visit, Rubio is also expected to meet Italy’s foreign and defence ministers. The reports suggest the trip is aimed at easing tensions following Trump’s recent criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a key European ally.
The schedule has not been finalised, and a meeting with Meloni has not been ruled out.
The visit comes shortly after the Pentagon announced plans to withdraw around 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, the largest American military presence in Europe. The move has added to wider tensions linked to the conflict with Iran and ongoing trade disputes.
Italy remains one of the main hosts of U.S. forces in Europe, with nearly 13,000 troops stationed across six bases at the end of 2025.
Officials in Washington, the Vatican and Rome have not yet commented on the reported visit.
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