U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning a trip to Italy this week that is expected to include a meeting with Pope Leo, according to a Vatican source, as President Donald Trump’s public criticism of the pontiff has sparked backlash from across the political spectrum.
The anticipated meeting, which would mark the first face-to-face discussion between Pope Leo and a member of the U.S. Cabinet in close to a year, is slated for Thursday, a senior individual familiar with the pope’s schedule said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
In recent weeks, Pope Leo has adopted a more assertive tone, becoming a vocal opponent of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, following earlier criticism of the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.
President Trump repeatedly targeted the pope on social media in April, at one point calling him “terrible,” remarks that drew significant attention while the pontiff was traveling through four African nations.
Rubio’s last encounter with Pope Leo took place in May 2025, when he attended the pope’s inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s Square alongside Vice President JD Vance. The two also held a private meeting with the pope the following day.
The pope is set to mark one year in his role on Friday.
Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera reported earlier Sunday that Rubio would be in Italy this week for a series of meetings, including talks with the Vatican’s top diplomat, Pietro Parolin, though they did not confirm whether an audience with the pope was planned.
Officials from the U.S. State Department, the Vatican press office, and the Italian government did not immediately respond to inquiries about the visit.
According to the Italian reports, Rubio is also expected to meet with Italy’s foreign and defense ministers, with the visit aimed at calming tensions between Washington and Rome after Trump sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last month, despite her status as one of his closest European allies.
It remains unclear whether Rubio will meet directly with Meloni during the trip.
The visit comes shortly after the Pentagon announced on Friday that it would reduce its troop presence in Germany by 5,000 personnel, a move that has added strain to already tense relations between the United States and Europe amid disagreements over the Iran conflict and trade disputes.
Italy remains one of the largest hosts of U.S. forces in Europe, with nearly 13,000 active-duty American troops stationed across six bases as of the end of 2025.
{Matzav.com}