Coverage dated May 2, 2026 to May 6, 2026

Rubio arrives for meeting with Pope Leo XIV to ease tensions after Trump's criticism over Iran

Headline from NBC Los Angeles, on the newest of 3 developments

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Vatican to mend ties after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV.

NBC Los Angeles's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

May 3, 2026
Rubio plans to visit the Vatican this week as tensions between Trump and the pope rise
Headline from Religion News ·
May 5, 2026
Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio’s visit to Vatican this week
Headline from The Columbian ·
May 7, 2026Newest
Rubio arrives for meeting with Pope Leo XIV to ease tensions after Trump's criticism over Iran
Headline from NBC Los Angeles ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

77 articles, oldest first.

Fox News
Rubio to visit Italy, Vatican amid troop drawdown call, tension with Trump, Pope Leo: reports (opens Fox News)
Published May 2, 2026
Fox News's feed description
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly traveling to the Vatican and Italy this week for meetings aimed at easing tensions after clashes between Donald Trump and Pope Leo.
Breitbart News
Vatican Confirms Marco Rubio Will Meet Pope Leo XIV on May 7 (opens Breitbart News)
Published May 3, 2026
Breitbart News's feed description
The Holy See Press Office issued a statement confirming that Pope Leo XIV will meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The Guardian
Marco Rubio to meet pope this week after Trump’s broadside against Leo (opens The Guardian)
Published May 3, 2026
The Guardian's feed description
US secretary of state’s two-day visit reportedly intended to thaw Washington’s frosty relations with Vatican and Italy
Washington Examiner
Rubio to visit Vatican in wake of Trump and Pope Leo spat (opens Washington Examiner)
Published May 3, 2026
Washington Examiner's feed description
Marco Rubio's three-day visit with the Holy See and Italian leadership comes on the heels of Trump's public feud with Pope Leo.
The Daily Signal
Rubio to Meet With Vatican and Italian Representatives (opens The Daily Signal)
Published May 3, 2026
The Daily Signal's feed description
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit the Vatican and Italy this week, the State Department confirms.
MyNorthwest
Rubio plans to visit the Vatican this week as tensions between Trump and the pope rise (opens MyNorthwest)
Published May 3, 2026
MyNorthwest's feed description
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Rome and Vatican City this week in a bid to ease rising tensions between President Donald
Townhall
Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Meet With the Pope This Week Amid Feud With President Trump (opens Townhall)
Published May 3, 2026
Townhall's feed description
Marco Rubio to meet Pope Leo amid tensions with President Trump over US policies.
MyNorthwest
Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio's visit to the Vatican this week (opens MyNorthwest)
Published May 4, 2026
MyNorthwest's feed description
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, potentially complicating a fence-mending visit that Secretary of State
America Magazine
Trump attacks Pope Leo again ahead of Marco Rubio’s Vatican visit (opens America Magazine)
Published May 4, 2026
America Magazine's feed description
On the eve of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the Vatican on May 7—a visit widely seen in Rome as an attempt to restore more tranquil relations with the White House—President Trump publicly attacked Pope Leo, alleging that “he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people” and …
New York Post
Rubio preps for ‘frank’ chat with Pope Leo XIV amid Vatican friction with Trump (opens New York Post)
Published May 4, 2026
New York Post's feed description
Rubio, a practicing Catholic, will visit Italy and Vatican City Wednesday through Friday.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rubio to visit Rome, Vatican City (opens Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
Published May 4, 2026
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's feed description
WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Rome and Vatican City this week in a bid to ease rising tensions between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over U.S. policies, particularly the Iran war.
The Daily Caller
Marco Rubio Reveals Whether He Is Visiting Vatican To Smooth Over Trump’s Tensions With Pope (opens The Daily Caller)
Published May 4, 2026
The Daily Caller's feed description
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied speculations that he is trying to smooth things over between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump.
New Hampshire Union Leader
Top US diplomat Rubio will have (opens New Hampshire Union Leader)
Published May 4, 2026
New Hampshire Union Leader's feed description
VATICAN CITY - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expects a "frank" meeting withPope Leo during a visit to the Vatican this week, the U.S. ambassador said on Tuesday, after
Latin Times
Rubio Plans Vatican Visit as Trump's Fight With Pope Leo Opens New Diplomatic Rift (opens Latin Times)
Published May 4, 2026
Latin Times's feed description
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Vatican City this week for a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, a delicate diplomatic mission aimed at easing tensions after President Donald Trump's
Washington Examiner
Rubio heads to Rome amid Trump's unpopular feud with Pope Leo (opens Washington Examiner)
Published May 5, 2026
Washington Examiner's feed description
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is meeting with Pope Leo XIV amid the pontiff's feud with President Donald Trump.
CNN
Rubio to meet Pope Leo after weeks of tensions with Trump (opens CNN)
Published May 5, 2026
CNN's feed description
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will sit down with Pope Leo XIV on Thursday amid a historic period of tension between Washington and the Vatican.
The Week
Trump attacks pope again before Rubio’s Vatican visit (opens The Week)
Published May 5, 2026
The Week's feed description
Rubio will also meet with Italy’s prime minister, who has split with Trump over his treatment of the pope
New York Post
Marco Rubio has a chance to broker peace with the Vatican following Trump and Pope Leo’s nasty clash (opens New York Post)
Published May 5, 2026
New York Post's feed description
As a Catholic, I was dismayed by President Trump's social-media tirade against Pope Leo — and I hope Secretary of State can patch things up when he heads to Rome this week.
The Columbian
Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio’s visit to Vatican this week (opens The Columbian)
Published May 5, 2026
The Columbian's feed description
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, potentially complicating a fence-mending visit that Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to make this week to the Vatican
Bangor Daily News
Marco Rubio expects to discuss religious freedom with Pope Leo after Trump blasts pontiff (opens Bangor Daily News)
Published May 5, 2026
Bangor Daily News's feed description
The secretary of state said his trip to the Vatican was planned before President Donald Trump's rift with the pope.
NBC Los Angeles
Rubio arrives for meeting with Pope Leo XIV to ease tensions after Trump's criticism over Iran (opens NBC Los Angeles)
Published May 6, 2026
NBC Los Angeles's feed description
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Vatican to mend ties after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV.
Deutsche Welle
Rubio meets Pope Leo at the Vatican (opens Deutsche Welle)
Published May 6, 2026
ABC 7 Chicago
Rubio faces challenge in Pope Leo meeting after Trump's criticism over Iran (opens ABC 7 Chicago)
Published May 6, 2026
ABC 7 Chicago's feed description
Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened a fence-mending visit to the Vatican on Thursday after President Donald Trump's broadsides against Pope Leo XIV.
The Guardian
Marco Rubio to meet pope at the Vatican after Trump attacks on pontiff (opens The Guardian)
Published May 6, 2026
The Guardian's feed description
US secretary of state will hold talks with Italian government, also berated by Trump for not supporting Iran war
Latin Times
Marco Rubio's Vatican Visit Draws European Praise as Trump-Pope Tensions Deepen (opens Latin Times)
Published May 6, 2026
Latin Times's feed description
Secretary of State Marco Rubio received rare positive attention in Europe after meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, a high-profile visit that came as tensions between President

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