Rubio Meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican
President Trump said he instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to tell Pope Leo that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Rubio met the pope at the Vatican after weeks of tension between Pope Leo and Trump. Rubio presented the pontiff with a small crystal football following their discussion of the Middle East.
vaticannews.va" The directive came as Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Vatican to discuss the situation in the Middle East and other matters. The meeting followed weeks of tension between Pope Leo and President Trump.
U.S. Secretary of State, later gifted Pope Leo a small crystal football after their conversation. Trump also asked Rubio to tell the pope that Iran killed "42,000 innocent protestors," according to the president's own account. He repeated the instruction to convey the message "very nicely" while emphasizing the nuclear prohibition.
Pope Leo is the current pontiff. The encounter at the Vatican represented an attempt to bridge differences after the period of strain between the two leaders. Rubio's presentation of the crystal football followed immediately after the substantive talks.
No further details on the pope's response were disclosed. Trump made the remarks about his instructions to Rubio while appearing at the National Mall. The visit occurred on Thursday as the administration continued its focus on Iran policy.
Rubio carried out the meeting in Rome amid the broader diplomatic calendar.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- May 8, 8:03 AM ET
1 new source added: The New York Times
1 sourceThe New York Times - 2026-05-08
President Trump visits National Mall and discloses instructions given to Secretary of State Marco Rubio
2 sourcesCBS News · President Trump - 2026-05-07
Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Pope Leo at the Vatican and gifts him a small crystal football
2 sourcesCBS News · The Independent - 2026-04-01
Weeks of tension begin between Pope Leo and President Trump
1 sourceCBS News
Potential Impact
- 01
Continued high-level U.S. engagement with the Vatican on Iran policy despite prior tensions
- 02
Potential for Vatican to weigh in on Middle East diplomatic efforts involving Iran
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
Fox NewsJustice Department Files Denaturalization Cases Against 12 Naturalized Citizens for Alleged Fraud, Terrorism Ties and Criminal Concealment
The Trump administration announced a dozen new cases on May 8, 2026, targeting individuals accused of concealing ties to terrorism, war crimes, espionage and sexual abuse of minors. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said those who obtained citizenship through fraud should be w…
Fox NewsTrump Administration Seeks to Revoke Citizenship of 12 Naturalized Americans
The Justice Department on Friday filed denaturalization actions against a dozen foreign-born U.S. citizens accused of concealing terrorism ties, committing sex crimes, war crimes or immigration fraud. The cases mark a sharp increase in use of a rarely invoked process that prior a…
The Japan TimesSpirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy
The ultra-low-cost carrier launched in 1992 will cease operations in May 2026, removing a major disruptor from the U.S. market. Global airlines canceled 13,000 flights in May amid soaring fuel costs triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Toyota reported a £3bn hit from…