Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Apostolic Palace on May 7, 2026, discussing countries marked by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, and the need to work tirelessly for peace.

The meeting, requested by the American side, lasted 45 minutes – longer than the half-hour typically granted for such visits. Both sides described the exchange as constructive. The Vatican statement noted an “exchange of views on the regional and international situation, with particular attention to countries marked by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, as well as on the necessity of working tirelessly in favour of peace”. The US State Department spoke of discussions on the Middle East, issues of common interest in the Western Hemisphere, and a shared commitment to “promoting peace and the dignity of the human person”.

During the exchange of gifts, the Pope presented Secretary Rubio with a pen crafted from olive wood. “It is the plant of peace,” Pope Leo remarked, drawing attention to the olive as an enduring biblical and ecclesial symbol of reconciliation. Rubio, in turn, gave the Holy Father a small crystal American football.

Before the audience, Secretary Rubio had told reporters there was “a lot to talk about with the Vatican”, highlighting shared concerns over religious freedom and humanitarian needs. Following the papal meeting, he held further discussions with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. The entire visit to the Vatican complex lasted approximately two and a half hours.

Rubio later explained that during the meeting: “I expressed to them on the situation with Iran, expressed our point of view about why this was an important and the danger that Iran posed us to the world, which is largely recognised.”

“The Holy Father is a spiritual leader, he’s the first and foremost, 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 of humanity,” he added.

“But at the end, it was very cordial and important meeting,” Rubio insisted, “and it’s important to share our points of view and an explanation and an understanding of where we’re coming from, and I thought it was very positive.”

The audience took place on the eve of the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election. Earlier that morning the Holy Father had received Cardinal Reinhard Marx. Photographs released by Vatican Media showed both the Pope and Secretary Rubio appearing at ease, with the Successor of Peter visibly relaxed and smiling.

This encounter between the first American-born pontiff and a senior Catholic member of the current US administration follows weeks of public friction, particularly over the conflict involving Iran.

The Holy See has consistently upheld its teaching on the grave moral concerns surrounding nuclear weapons and the pursuit of peace through diplomacy, rooted in the Church’s social doctrine.

Secretary Rubio, who has long referenced the principles of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum in his public remarks on economic justice and the dignity of labour, met the Pope for the second time, having previously attended the Mass marking the beginning of the pontificate a year ago.

Vatican sources indicated that while the tone remained cordial, the discussions addressed areas of disagreement with frankness. The Holy See continues to stress the Church’s mission to advocate for the vulnerable and to call all parties to pursue justice and concord, especially in the wake of recent conflicts waged by parties involving the United States and its allies, in keeping with the perennial teaching of the Gospel.