US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Visit Vatican Amid Tensions with Pope Leo XIV

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit the Vatican on May 7, 2026, for meetings with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to address recent diplomatic friction.

Key points

• The visit follows public criticism from President Donald Trump, who recently labeled the Pope as weak on crime and poor in foreign policy.
• Pope Leo XIV previously met with Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance in May 2025.
• The meeting is considered significant as the Pope typically reserves such audiences for heads of state.

Why it matters

The visit represents a high-level attempt to repair diplomatic relations between the US administration and the Holy See following public exchanges between the two leaders.