Pope and Rubio meet days after Trump blasted Pontiff

The Vatican described the discussions with Mr Rubio as “cordial” in a statement released after the 45-minute meeting, adding that “the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America was reaffirmed” in the Secretary’s conversation with the Pope and subsequent meetings with Vatican officials.  

“There was then an exchange of views on the regional and international situation, with particular attention to countries marked by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, as well as on the need to work tirelessly in favour of peace,” the Vatican said. 

Before his trip, Mr Rubio denied that the purpose of his meeting with the Pope was to “smooth things over” with the Vatican. Instead, he said, he intended to discuss concerns about religious freedom around the world and the humanitarian situation in Cuba, where the Church has been active in distributing humanitarian aid supplied by the United States.

But the day before the meeting, the Vatican’s top diplomat Cardinal Pietro Parolin said discussion of Mr Trump’s recent tirades against Pope Leo would be unavoidable.

Three days before the Leo-Rubio meeting, Mr Trump said the Pope was “endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people” with his position on Iran, repeating the false claim that Leo supports allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Without naming the President, Pope Leo responded to the attack in comments to reporters upon leaving the papal retreat outside Rome the following evening. 

“If someone wants to criticise me for announcing the Gospel, do so with the truth,” he said. “The Church for years has spoken against all nuclear weapons, there is no doubt about that, so I simply hope to be heard for the value of the Word of God.” 

Mr Trump has repeatedly said that the Pope believes Iran “can have a nuclear weapon”, despite Pope Leo’s frequent condemnation of the use, possession and development of nuclear weapons in all forms.

A social media post from the US Embassy to the Holy See said Mr Rubio and Pope Leo discussed “the situation in the Middle East and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere” and that the meeting “underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity”.

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Rubio meets Pope Leo as Trump attacks strain US-Vatican ties (By Justin McLellan/National Catholic Reporter)