Rubio expects ‘frank’ meeting with pope as Trump takes fresh potshots at Leo

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expects a “frank” meeting with Pope ​Leo during a visit to the Vatican on Thursday (May 7, 2026), the U.S. ambassador said, after ⁠President Donald Trump took a fresh pot-shot at the pope for criticising the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

“Nations have disagreements, and I think one of the ways that you work through those is … through fraternity ‌and authentic dialogue,” Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, said on Tuesday (May 5, 2026).