Rubio to visit Vatican and Rome amid tensions after Trump-Pope clash

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Rome and the Vatican later this week, in a trip that comes amid strained relations between Washington and the Catholic leadership.

According to an AFP report, Rubio, a practicing Catholic, is expected to hold talks with senior Vatican and Italian officials during the two-day visit.

The meetings are being closely watched as an effort to ease tensions that emerged after a public disagreement between US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV.

According to the report, Rubio is likely to meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani.

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Background: Trump-Pope tensions

The visit comes after a sharp exchange between Trump and Pope Leo XIV. The Pope, who became head of the Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis in May 2025, has criticised US policies on immigration and war.

Tensions escalated after the Pope spoke out against military actions, including US-Israeli strikes on Iran. He described threats to destroy Iran as “unacceptable” and called for peace, urging Americans to push their leaders towards diplomacy.

Trump responded strongly, criticising the Pope on social media and calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” He also said that he did not support a Pope who appeared to tolerate Iran having nuclear weapons.

Strain with Italy as well

The disagreement also affected US ties with Italy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the Pope’s comments, calling Trump’s criticism “unacceptable.”

In response, Trump criticised Meloni, saying he was disappointed. He further questioned her leadership. He also accused Italy of not doing enough to support the US, particularly in relation to Nato and the conflict involving Iran.

Trump has even suggested pulling US troops out of Italy, adding to concerns about the future of the transatlantic relationship. A day ago, US has decided to pull more than 5,000 troops from Germany.

Effort to improve relations

Rubio’s upcoming visit is being seen as an attempt to ease tensions and rebuild communication between the US, the Vatican, and Italy. The report has described the trip as a move to “thaw” relations after weeks of sharp rhetoric.

The meetings could focus on key global issues, including conflict in West Asia, immigration, and cooperation between the US and its European allies.

While it remains unclear whether the visit will lead to any immediate breakthroughs, it signals a willingness from Washington to engage diplomatically and reduce friction with important international partners.