U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived at the Vatican on May 7, 2026, to meet with Pope Leo XIV, aiming to ease tensions following President Donald Trump's recent criticisms of the pope and the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. Rubio, a practicing Catholic, had a scheduled audience with Pope Leo, who has publicly rebuffed Trump's mischaracterizations of his stance on Iran and nuclear weapons, emphasizing a message of peace. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, also defended the pope against Trump's attacks, describing the criticism as strange. Commentators suggest that Rubio's visit is more about his political ambitions than genuine reconciliation efforts. The Vatican's willingness to maintain dialogue is evident, as it did not cancel the audience despite Trump's remarks. Additionally, discussions will cover Cuba, where the Holy See is concerned about potential military action from the Trump administration following the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Rubio, a son of Cuban immigrants, has long advocated for a hardline stance on Cuba.