US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit the Vatican and then meet with the Italian government amid recent disputes between US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
It was reported by Corriere della Sera.
It is noted that Rubio will be in Rome this coming Thursday and Friday for a visit during which he will meet with representatives of the Holy See and the government.
Rubio’s schedule in Rome has not yet been finalized. Four meetings are currently planned. He will first meet with the Holy See’s Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and then with the Pope — this is the last of the confirmed meetings. The day before, Trump called Pope Leo XIV “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy.” He even took credit for his election to the papal throne: “If I weren’t in the White House, he wouldn’t have become Pope.” These remarks prompted a response from the Pope: “I am not a politician; I will continue to speak out against war.”
The next day, Rubio will meet with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and later that same day, he will have lunch with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. It is possible, though not confirmed, that a personal meeting will take place between the US Secretary of State and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
"I want to meet with her," Rubio said.
As a reminder, on April 5, Meloni criticized the US president’s statements regarding European countries and their stance on the war with Iran. Additionally, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is described as an ally of Donald Trump, condemned the wave of criticism directed at Pope Leo XIV on social media by the US president.
Trump said he was “shocked” by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as he had considered her to be more courageous.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.