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).

Pope Leo XIV blasted the “handful of tyrants” who are ravaging Earth with war and exploitation as he preached a message of peace on Thursday (April 16, 2026) in the epicentre of a separatist conflict considered one of the world’s most neglected crises.

Pope Leo travelled to the western Cameroon city of Bamenda, where jubilant crowds clogged the roads, blowing horns and dancing. They were overjoyed that a Pope had come so far to see them and put a global spotlight on the violence that has traumatised this region for nearly a decade.