Marco Rubio's Rome Meeting with Pope Leo XIV: A Diplomatic Dance Over Iran and Gifts

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Friday, describing the encounter as a ‘very positive’ discussion—though it did little to resolve escalating tensions between the White House and the Vatican.

According to CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo, Rubio stated that the meeting covered critical global issues, including the Iran war and America’s stance on the conflict. Rubio emphasized the perceived threat posed by Iran, telling the pontiff, ‘the danger that Iran poses to the world.’

Earlier, Donald Trump had directed Rubio to raise the matter with the pope, signaling his administration’s unwillingness to ease its dispute with the Catholic Church. Trump’s instructions, delivered Thursday evening, were clear:

‘I just said, tell the pope very nicely, very respectfully, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Also tell the pope that Iran killed 42,000 innocent protesters who didn’t have guns, who didn’t have weapons. Tell that to the pope.’

The Vatican’s stance has repeatedly clashed with Trump’s policies. Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, previously advocated for global peace, drawing sharp criticism from the administration. In January, the Pentagon reportedly threatened a Holy See ambassador following the pope’s antiwar remarks during his State of the World address. Despite this, Leo dismissed Trump’s remarks, asserting he had ‘no fear’ of the administration or of speaking out on Gospel values.

The Vatican also rejected a White House invitation for the pope to attend America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, further straining relations.

Awkward Gift Exchange Leaves Tensions Unresolved

The meeting concluded with an exchange of symbolic gifts that underscored the diplomatic friction. Pope Leo presented Rubio with a pen made of olive wood, calling it a ‘plant of peace’—a subtle olive branch to the Trump administration. In response, Rubio gave the pope a tiny crystal football, acknowledging Leo’s fandom of the Chicago White Sox, a baseball team.

The Vatican later issued a statement describing the talks as ‘cordial’, but noted that the discussions included ‘an exchange of views regarding the regional and international situation’, particularly in war-torn and politically tense regions. The statement also stressed the need for ‘tireless work in support of peace.’