Following weeks of tension between the Vatican and the White House, the US State Department said talks on Thursday between Pope Leo XIV and Secretary of State Marco Rubio \u201cunderscored the strong relationship\u201d between the two sides.<\/p>\n
A Vatican statement said they \u201crenewed the shared \u2060commitment\u201d for good bilateral relations between the US and \u200cthe Vatican.<\/p>\n
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The two sides also exchanged views on current events \u201cwith particular attention to countries marked by war, political tensions, and difficult humanitarian situations, as well as on the need to work tirelessly in favour of peace\u201d.<\/p>\n
The first \u2060American pontiff met \u2060Rubio following Donald Trump\u2019s repeated attacks on the \u200cRoman Catholic leader over the Iran war launched by Israel and the US.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity,\u201d said State Department spokesman, Tommy Pigott.<\/p>\n
Rubio spent two-and-a-half hours at the Vatican before driving away in a convoy under tight security. He met initially with Leo before sitting down with senior Vatican officials, including top diplomat, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin.<\/p>\n
With Parolin, Rubio discussed \u201cefforts to achieve a durable peace in the Middle East,\u201d Pigott said. \u201cThe discussion reflected the enduring partnership between the United States and the Holy See in advancing religious freedom,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s talks are the first known meeting between Pope Leo and a Trump government official in nearly a year. Parolin earlier said the meeting was requested by the US, and Leo would listen carefully to what Rubio had to say.<\/p>\n
War of words between Trump and Leo<\/p>\n