US AMBASSADOR EXPECTS “FRANK” CONVERSATION
Pope Leo, who on Friday marks his first year leading the 1.4-billion-member Church, has grown more outspoken on the world stage in recent weeks.
During a four-nation African tour last month, he forcefully decried the direction of global leadership and said the world was “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants“, in comments he later said were not aimed directly at Trump.
Rubio is Catholic, as is Vice President JD Vance. The two met Pope Leo a year ago after attending the pope’s inaugural mass.
Rubio said at a White House briefing on Tuesday that he expected to discuss Cuba and concerns over religious freedom around the world with Pope Leo.
He was flying to Rome without any press accompanying him on his plane, which is unusual for a US secretary of state.
The US ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, told journalists earlier on Tuesday that the conversation between the pope and Cabinet official was likely to be “frank”.
Rubio is visiting Rome for two days. He is due to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has defended the pope from Trump, on Friday. Meloni’s defence minister has also said the war in Iran puts US leadership at risk.
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