Secretary of State Marco Rubio held face-to-face talks with Pope Leo XIV on Thursday in Vatican City. The discussions focused on the Middle East and other shared interests despite ongoing criticism from President Donald Trump over the pope's position on Iran.
Rubio, a Roman Catholic, met the pope and Holy See Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the session covered the situation in the Middle East and topics in the Western Hemisphere. A department official described the conversations as friendly and constructive, noting the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their commitment to peace and human dignity.
