Rubio Meets Pope Leo At Vatican After Diplomatic Spat

ROME, May 7 (Bernama-dpa) – United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in an effort to smooth over tensions resulting from the pontiff's spat with President Donald Trump, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. 

Leo has been a vocal critic of the US-Israeli war in Iran and called for a ceasefire. Trump responded by accusing the US-born pope of supporting Tehran's bid to acquire nuclear weapons, and also called him "weak on crime."

Rubio, a Catholic born to Cuban immigrants, emphasised common ground with the Vatican ahead of his trip, including on the issue of religious freedom across the world. 

In Cuba, he noted, the US has provided humanitarian aid with the support of the Catholic Church. 

Rubio landed in Rome on Thursday and plans to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday. 

Relations between Meloni and Trump have deteriorated following the US leader's dispute with the pope.

-- BERNAMA-dpa