Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 7, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Rubio meets Pope Leo, touts ‘strong’ US-Vatican ties amid tensions over Iran war
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
In this handout photo provided by Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV exchanges gifts with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, as they meet in the pope's private library at the Vatican, May 7, 2026. (Vatican Media via AP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s meeting with Pope Leo at the Vatican shows a “strong” relationship between the Holy See and the US, a State Department spokesman says.
Leo, the first US-born pope, met with Rubio amid an atmosphere of tension between Washington and the Vatican following US President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the Catholic leader over the Iran war, which the pontiff has spoken out against.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott says the meeting between Rubio and the pope also “underscored… their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity.”
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here