Rubio Meets Pope Leo At Vatican To Discuss Iran War, Middle East Peace
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV and top Vatican diplomat Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the Vatican on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to discuss the Iran war and efforts toward a durable Middle East peace.
State Department readouts said the meetings underscored the strong relationship and "enduring partnership" between the United States and the Holy See, and highlighted shared goals on religious freedom, human dignity and humanitarian issues in the Western Hemisphere.
The visit also aimed to smooth tensions after President Donald Trump's recent public attacks on Pope Leo over his opposition to the Iran war and criticism of U.S. immigration and deportation policies, which had prompted Vatican pushback.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Marco Rubio held an audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
- Rubio also met for about 2.5 hours with Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
- State Department statements said the talks covered the Iran war, Middle East peace, humanitarian issues in the Western Hemisphere and religious freedom, and emphasized strong U.S.–Holy See ties.
- The outreach follows President Trump’s social media attacks on Pope Leo over his stance on the Iran war and U.S. immigration policies.
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