Rubio reports discussing Iran during ‘very good’ meeting with Pope Leo

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described his May 7 meeting with Pope Leo XIV as “very good,” “cordial,” and “important,” saying he briefed Vatican officials on the Trump administration’s view of the threat posed by Iran.

Speaking to reporters May 8, Rubio said the meeting also covered areas of ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and the Vatican around the world. 

“First of all, we work together with the Church, and we talked about those areas that we’re working together on in different parts of the world,” he said.

Rubio said he also updated the Vatican on “the situation with Iran” and “expressed our point of view about why this is important, and the danger that Iran poses to the world, which is largely recognized.” 

“Obviously, the Holy Father is a spiritual leader, first and foremost,” Rubio continued. “I mean that’s his role to play, and obviously the Church has always interacted on behalf of a mission for peace and a respect for all humanity.”

Rubio added that he thought the talks were “very positive.”

As Zeale News previously reported, Rubio met privately with Pope Leo before holding additional talks with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations. Vatican and U.S. statements said the discussions focused on fostering good relations between the U.S. and the Holy See, as well as situations in the Western Hemisphere and the Middle East and the need to support peace amid global conflicts.

>> Rubio meets with Pope Leo at Vatican to discuss Middle East, international situation <<

The meeting followed President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of Pope Leo over his outspokenness against the Iran war. Trump accused the Pontiff this week of suggesting that Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, a claim Pope Leo responded to on May 5 by reaffirming the Church’s longstanding opposition to all nuclear weapons, as Zeale News reported.

>> Pope points to Church opposition to nukes after Trump falsely claimed he said 'Iran can have a nuclear weapon’ <<

Asked by a reporter May 8 whether he would recommend that Trump stop criticizing the Pope on social media, Rubio declined to discuss any private advice he’d give the President.

“Why would I tell you what I'm gonna recommend to the President?” he said. “But beyond that, the President of the United States is always going to act in what’s in the best interest of the United States.”

He added that the administration can pursue U.S. interests while also maintaining “a very productive and fruitful and important relationship with the Church because it plays an important role in the world as well.”