“WE’LL LISTEN TO HIM”
The US diplomat, a religious Catholic, had earlier sought to minimize the rift between Trump and the pope, which sparked international headlines and risked alienating Catholic US voters.
The US ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, advised reporters this week it might seemingly be a “frank dialog”.
For the Vatican’s half, “we’ll hearken to him”, Parolin had stated on Wednesday, noting that Washington initiated the assembly.
The Trump administration had celebrated the election one 12 months in the past – Might 8, 2025 – of Leo, the primary US pontiff in historical past.
However its relations with the Holy See have since sharply deteriorated.
Trump’s unprecedented assault got here after Leo known as for peace within the Middle East war launched by Israel and the United States.
The pontiff condemned a risk by Trump to destroy Iranian civilisation as “actually unacceptable”.
Earlier than leaving for Rome, Rubio stated the journey had been deliberate earlier than the conflict, including: “There’s lots to speak about with the Vatican.”
On Thursday, a US supply hailed the welcome prolonged to Rubio, saying it “exceeded expectations”.
Rubio’s motorcade entered the Vatican by the Arch of Bells, an honour usually accorded to heads of state, and he was greeted by the Swiss Guard.
