Pope to meet US Secretary of State Thursday

The Vatican is preparing for a significant diplomatic encounter as Pope Leo XIV is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This meeting, scheduled for Thursday, carries particular weight given the recent public criticisms leveled against the Pope by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Vatican's official calendar confirms the private audience, signaling an effort to mend fences and foster dialogue between the leader of the Catholic Church and the American administration.

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The private visit with the top US diplomat, who is a Catholic, will take place at 11:30 am (0930 GMT).

This high-level meeting is seen by Vatican sources as a crucial step towards "thawing" relations that have become strained. Secretary of State Rubio, a Catholic himself, is expected to engage in discussions that go beyond protocol. His itinerary also includes meetings with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, indicating a broader diplomatic agenda concerning European and global affairs.

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The meeting was an attempt to “thaw” relations between the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and the US government.

The backdrop of President Trump's strong remarks against Pope Leo XIV, including accusations of not believing in stopping crime and "toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon" (referring to Iran), cannot be overstated. Trump's subsequent sharing of an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ further highlights the unusual and contentious nature of the relationship between the papacy and the former U.S. president.

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calling him a “man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime” and accusing Leo of “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon”, in a reference to Iran.

From a Nigerian perspective, as covered by The Punch, this meeting is of considerable interest. The Pope's role as a moral and spiritual leader with a global following means his interactions with world leaders are closely watched. The potential for improved relations between the Vatican and the U.S. could have ripple effects on international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts. Furthermore, the Pope's outspokenness on international conflicts and his critiques of political actions resonate globally, making any dialogue aimed at de-escalation and understanding particularly noteworthy.

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The secretary of state was received at the Vatican with US Vice President JD Vance in May 2025, just days after Leo was elected pope.