May 3, 2026

Marco Rubio to Meet Pope Leo Amid Rising U.S.-Italy Tensions and Trump Criticism

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Pope Leo on Thursday, the first in-person meeting with a U.S. cabinet official in almost a year.
The trip follows President Trump's sharp criticisms of Pope Leo and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, amid rising tensions in U.S.-Europe relations.
Rubio is also expected to engage with Italy's foreign and defense ministers, although a meeting with Meloni remains uncertain.