U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in talks that Washington described as “friendly and constructive,” reaffirming the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to peace and human dignity.
The private audience, which lasted around 45 minutes, took place during Rubio’s official visit to Rome and marked one of the highest-level encounters between the new pontiff and the U.S. administration. According to a statement released by the State Department following the meeting, both sides emphasized their common dedication to humanitarian values and international peace efforts.
After his meeting with Pope Leo XIV, Rubio held separate talks with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, continuing discussions on key diplomatic and global issues.
The Vatican visit comes ahead of Rubio’s scheduled meeting on Friday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as part of a broader diplomatic mission in Italy focused on transatlantic relations and international cooperation.