U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to discuss Cuba and global religious freedom with Pope Leo during a visit to the Vatican on Thursday (7 May), following recent criticism from President Donald Trump over the pope’s comments on the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
Earlier on Tuesday (5 May), U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said Rubio and the Pope would “have a frank conversation about U.S. policy, to engage in dialogue”.
“Nations have disagreements, and I think one of the ways that you work through those is ... through fraternity and authentic dialogue,” Burch said at an event hosted by the U.S. embassy at Rome’s Gregorian University.
Speaking at the White House, Rubio said discussions with the Vatican would focus on religious freedom, particularly in Africa, as well as humanitarian assistance in Cuba.
“There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican,” Rubio said. “The pope is obviously the vicar of Christ, is a Roman Catholic, but he’s also the head of a nation state.”
Rubio said the United States continued to cooperate with the Catholic Church on humanitarian aid distribution in Cuba and shared concerns about “the destruction of religious liberty, the persecution of Christian minorities”, and challenges facing Christians in Africa.
Trump has criticised the first U.S.-born Pope several times in recent weeks. Rubio said his Vatican trip had been arranged before the latest disagreement.
“No, I mean it’s a trip we had planned from before, and obviously we had some stuff that happened,” Rubio said when asked whether the visit was intended “to smooth things over with the Pope”.
On Monday, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, “The Pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don’t think that’s very good.”
Pope Leo has not said Iran should possess nuclear weapons, but he has opposed the conflict, which Trump says is aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and says its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, including uranium enrichment permitted under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The United States possesses nuclear weapons.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, the Pope said criticism would not affect his message.
“The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace,” Leo said. “If someone wants to criticise me for preaching the Gospel ... I hope simply to be listened to because of the value of God’s words.”
He also rejected suggestions that he supported nuclear weapons.
“The Church has spoken out for years against all nuclear arms, on that there is no doubt,” he said.
Rubio, who is Catholic, and Vice President JD Vance met Pope Leo last year after attending his inaugural Mass.
Burch dismissed suggestions of a major divide between Trump and the Vatican, saying the purpose of Rubio’s visit was for both sides to “better understand each other, and to work through, if there are differences, certainly to talk through that”.
Rubio is also scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday (8 May). Meloni has defended the Pope, while Italy’s defence minister has said the Iran conflict could weaken U.S. leadership internationally.
Leo, who marks his first anniversary as Head of the Catholic Church on Friday, has recently become more vocal on international issues, including the Iran conflict, U.S. immigration policy, and relations between Washington and Cuba.
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President Donald Trump cited "great progress" toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran as he announced he would briefly pause the operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urges China to pressure Tehran over its actions in the Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met China’s top diplomat in Beijing on Wednesday (6 May), underscoring deepening ties between Tehran and Beijing ahead of high-level U.S.-China talks expected to touch on Iran and the Gulf crisis.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 6th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A shooting at a school in northwestern Brazil on Tuesday (5 May) has left two staff members dead and several others injured, including a student, in the latest incident of violence to hit the country’s education system.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were transformed once again into the world's most prestigious runway for the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, 'Costume Art,' invited guests to explore the intersection of nature, history, and the surreal under the official dress code 'Fashion Is Art'.
Uzbekistan has unveiled a series of major economic and regional initiatives as more than 4,000 delegates from over 100 countries gather in Samarkand for the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held under the theme “Crossroads of Progress.”
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 6th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A shooting at a school in northwestern Brazil on Tuesday (5 May) has left two staff members dead and several others injured, including a student, in the latest incident of violence to hit the country’s education system.
A Russian overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s gas production facilities has killed five people, including two rescue workers, Ukrainian officials said, as Kyiv and Moscow exchanged competing ceasefire proposals.
Sudan’s armed forces have accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of carrying out a drone attack targeting Khartoum airport, as a renewed wave of strikes shattered months of relative calm in the capital nearly three years into the civil war.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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