The secretary of state is set to travel to Italy this week, a Vatican official said. Observers view the trip as an attempt to patch up ties with the Vatican and Italy.
May 3, 2026 at 3:36 p.m. EDT29 minutes ago
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at the White House on April 23. (Aaron Schwartz/For The Washington Post/Pool)
ROME — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to travel to Italy to meet with Pope Leo XIV this week, according to a senior Vatican official, marking the first high-ranking encounter between the pontiff and a top administration official since President Donald Trump issued withering criticism of the Chicago-born pope last month.
