Lead
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, a visit expected to be 'frank' amid fresh criticism of the pontiff by President Donald Trump over Iran. The pope, who marks his first anniversary as pontiff, has emerged as a vocal opponent of the US-led war on Iran, repeatedly calling for peace talks and challenging the Trump administration's approach.
Coverage Comparison
Coverage of the events leading up to the meeting has been extensive across international outlets, with most focusing on Trump's latest remarks about the pope. Al Jazeera framed the story around Pope Leo's message of peace and Rubio's visit, while outlets like France 24 and The Guardian highlighted the potential impact of Trump's comments on the Rubio-pope meeting. The Jerusalem Post and South China Morning Post provided neutral coverage of Trump's criticism, while TASS emphasized Pope Leo's peace-focused response.
Key Claims
Trump's criticism: In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump accused the pope of 'endangering a lot of Catholics' and suggesting he is fine with Iran having nuclear weapons. 'The pope would rather talk about the fact that it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don't think that's very good,' Trump said, as reported by multiple sources including Reuters and The Guardian.
The pope's position: Pope Leo has never said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons, according to several reports. He has called for peace talks and criticized the war with Iran generally, as well as Trump's threats of mass civilian strikes. In response to Trump, the pope said on Tuesday: 'The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace.' He added that if anyone wants to criticize him for proclaiming the Gospel, they should 'do so with the truth,' citing the church's long-standing opposition to all nuclear weapons.
Rubio's visit: The secretary of state, who is Catholic, will meet the pope at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday. US Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said he expects a 'frank' conversation, adding that nations can work through disagreements through 'fraternity and authentic dialogue.' The visit was reportedly organized after Trump's previous criticism of the pope in April, which included calling him 'weak on crime' and 'terrible on foreign policy.'
Perspectives
The Vatican's perspective: Pope Leo has repeatedly emphasized that his message is rooted in biblical and church teachings, not political rivalry. He has rejected Trump's characterization of his stance on Iran and expressed hope for 'good dialogue' during Rubio's visit.
The US administration's perspective: Trump maintains that the pope's stance on Iran is dangerous, suggesting it could encourage Tehran to pursue nuclear weapons. Rubio, while defending the president, has sought to clarify that Trump's concern is about the threat Iran poses to regions with significant Catholic populations.
International reaction: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has defended the pope, while her defense minister has warned that the war in Iran puts US leadership at risk. Christian leaders across the political spectrum have also drawn backlash against Trump's repeated disparagement of the pope.
Context
This is not the first clash between Trump and the Pope. In April, Trump lashed out at Leo after the pope criticized the US-Israeli war on Iran, even sharing an AI-generated image of himself in a Christ-like pose before deleting it. The pope, who was born in Chicago, is the first American-born pontiff, a fact Trump has referenced in his attacks. The upcoming meeting comes at a time of rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with Rubio accusing Tehran of 'holding the whole world hostage.'