Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Italy this week for meetings with Vatican and Italian officials, including Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, Italian newspapers reported Sunday. A senior Vatican source confirmed the papal audience to Reuters, though neither the U.S. State Department nor the Holy See press office has officially announced the itinerary.

The trip comes amid heightened tensions between the Trump administration and the Holy See, sparked by public disagreements over U.S. foreign policy and military actions. President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social in April, calling him "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy" after the pontiff condemned the ongoing U.S.-Israeli-led war with Iran, which began on February 28. Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, has repeatedly urged dialogue and decried the "delusion of omnipotence" in international conflicts, including U.S. interventions in Venezuela in January and threats toward Iran.

Trump also expressed frustration with European allies, including Italy, which hosts nearly 13,000 U.S. troops across six bases. He suggested considering a drawdown similar to the recent reduction of 5,000 troops from Germany, citing a lack of support on Iran and other issues. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni drew Trump's ire for defending the pope, further straining ties.

Rubio, a Catholic and son of Cuban immigrants who served as a Florida senator until 2025, is expected to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, and Italian foreign and defense ministers during the visit. A sit-down with Meloni remains possible but unconfirmed. The State Department biography notes Rubio was sworn in on January 21, 2025, following a unanimous Senate confirmation.

This would mark the first in-person meeting between a U.S. cabinet official and Pope Leo XIV in nearly a year. Rubio previously met the pontiff in May 2025 alongside Vice President JD Vance during Leo's inaugural Mass and a private audience.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, was elected on May 8, 2025, as the first American pope and second from the Americas. A former Augustinian leader and prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he holds U.S., Peruvian, and Vatican citizenship. Leo has voiced concerns over U.S. immigration policies and military actions while advocating humane treatment of migrants and peace efforts.

The rift traces back to January 2026, with disagreements over U.S. operations in Venezuela, the Cuban crisis, immigration enforcement like Operation Metro Surge, and benefit cuts. Leo's criticisms escalated with the Iran war, prompting Trump's attacks and actions like funding cuts to Catholic Charities. Trump praised Rubio's diplomatic skills during his State of the Union address, calling him potentially "the best ever."

Reports first appeared in La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, with Vatican sources indicating the meeting aligns with the first anniversary of Leo's papacy.