Trending Now - Rubio Heads to Vatican for Key Talks Amid Tensions With Trump
WHO:
Alternet - Christopher Hale, who writes the "Letters from Leo" Substack, commented on Rubio's visit.
Vatican News - Pope Leo XIV is originally from Chicago.
Alternet - President Donald Trump is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican.
Politico.eu - Marco Rubio will meet Pope Leo XIV and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The Washington Post - A senior Vatican official confirmed Rubio's travel to Italy.
WHAT:
Alternet - Hale described Rubio's potential courtship of the Vatican as a "wild gambit" to silence Pope Leo XIV.
Vatican News - Rubio is expected to arrive at the Vatican at 11:15 a.m. for his meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Alternet - Rubio's visit is described as an effort to clean up Trump's feud with Pope Leo XIV.
Alternet - Cuba is on the agenda for discussions during Rubio's meeting.
Politico.eu - Rubio is scheduled to have an audience with Pope Leo XIV at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
Politico.eu - Rubio will hold talks with Meloni at the same time Friday.
The Washington Post - This meeting marks the first high-ranking encounter between the pontiff and a top administration official since Trump's criticism of the pope.
WHERE:
Alternet - The meeting will take place at the Vatican.
Politico.eu - Rubio will meet with Meloni in Italy.
WHEN:
Vatican News - Pope Leo XIV will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 7 at 11:30 a.m.
Politico.eu - Rubio's audience with Pope Leo XIV is scheduled for Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
Politico.eu - Talks with Meloni are scheduled for the same time on Friday.
WHY:
Alternet - Hale noted that the meeting may be about more than repairing the relationship between Trump and the pope, suggesting it could involve military action against Cuba.
Alternet - The visit is seen as a "relations thawing mission" following Trump's attacks on the pope and Meloni.
Alternet - The meeting aims to address tensions stemming from Trump's criticism of the pope regarding the war in Iran.
HOW:
Alternet - Hale confirmed that the White House specifically requested that Rubio meet with the pope.
Alternet - The White House specifically requested that Rubio meet with the pope.
(UPDATED May 4, 2026 23:19 UTC)
Marco Rubio is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on May 7 at 11:30 a.m., a visit that has been described by Christopher Hale as a "wild gambit" aimed at silencing the pope. Hale also pointed out that this meeting may address more than just the relationship between Trump and the pope, potentially involving discussions about military action against Cuba. The White House has specifically requested this meeting, highlighting its significance in the current political landscape.
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(UPDATED May 4, 2026 19:23 UTC)
President Trump is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican in an effort to mend relations following Trump's previous criticisms of Pope Leo XIV. Rubio is scheduled to meet with the pope at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, and he will also hold talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the same time on Friday, with Cuba being one of the topics on the agenda. This visit marks the first high-ranking encounter between the pontiff and a top administration official since the tensions arose over Trump's comments regarding the war in Iran.