Vatican slams Trump’s ‘strange’ attacks on the Pope while Rubio plays peacemaker with a gift no one asked for: ‘Wow, ok’
Political football.
Vatican officials are calling out the latest attacks from Donald Trump as “rather strange” after a week of escalating tensions that left relations between Washington and the Holy See more strained than ever. The drama reached a new peak on May 7, 2026, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace in what was widely seen as a damage-control mission following repeated verbal assaults from the president.
The Vatican didn’t hold back in its response, with Secretary of State Pietro Parolin bluntly telling reporters that the criticism aimed at Leo was strange. The meeting itself had all the hallmarks of a carefully staged diplomatic effort. According to The Guardian, Vatican video captured the moment Leo, the first North American pontiff, greeted Rubio with a formal handshake and a polite “Mr. Secretary.”
Rubio, a Catholic himself, tried to lighten the mood with a joke about Leo’s Chicago roots and his love for baseball before presenting him with an unexpected gift: a small crystal American football. The Pope responded, “Wow, ok.” Leo is a known White Sox fan and the gift seemed more like a prop from an awkward team-building exercise than a thoughtful diplomatic offering.
The timing alone implies this was an attempt to clean up the president’s mess
After the 45-minute audience, the Vatican released a statement saying the two sides discussed global conflicts and the “need to work tirelessly in favour of peace.” A US official described the conversations as “friendly and constructive,” while a State Department spokesperson emphasized the “strong relationship” between the two nations and their “shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity.”.
The tension has been building for weeks. Just days before Rubio’s visit, the president accused Pope Leo of supporting nuclear weapons and “endangering a lot of Catholics” with his stance on the war in Iran. Leo fired back that he’s had enough of the misinformation. “If anyone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the gospel, let them do so with the truth,” he said. “The church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that.”
In April, the president went on a full-blown rant, calling Leo “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy” while bizarrely claiming the pope was only elected because he himself was in the White House at the time. If that wasn’t enough, he later shared, and then deleted, an AI-generated image of himself depicted as a Christ-like figure.
Rubio’s visit clearly meant to smooth things over
But it’s hard to see how a crystal football and a few diplomatic niceties can undo the damage. Analysts suggest Rubio was likely tasked with defending Washington’s rationale for the war in Iran while avoiding a direct clash with the Vatican’s position. Top diplomat Pietro Parolin made it clear where his loyalty lies. When asked whether he trusted Rubio or the president more, he didn’t mince words: “I count on no one. I count only on our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The fallout isn’t just limited to the Vatican. The president’s attacks have also strained relations with Italy, where the papacy holds significant cultural and political influence. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, once a staunch ally, has been forced to distance herself from the White House after the president lashed out at her for refusing to join the US campaign against Iran.
According to political historian Lorenzo Castellani, the shift in public opinion has been dramatic. “For the first time since the second world war, foreign policy has become a central concern for Italian public opinion,” he said. Polling suggests that as much as 80 to 90% of Italians now condemn the president’s stance, cutting across both right and left-wing voters.
Trump’s threats to withdraw US troops from Italy have only added fuel to the fire
With roughly 13,000 US military personnel stationed across seven naval bases in the country, the suggestion that Italy hasn’t been “of any help” to the US has not gone over well. Meloni’s government is now facing pressure to respond, and Rubio’s upcoming meeting with her on Friday is expected to be just as tense as his audience with the pope.
For Pope Leo, the meeting with Rubio was less about substantive dialogue and more about optics. Vatican correspondent Andrea Vreede noted that the pope likely wanted a photo opportunity and a brief statement about “continuing their dialogue and all wanting world peace.”
She also suggested that Rubio’s motives might not be entirely altruistic. With the 2028 US presidential election on the horizon, keeping diplomatic channels open with the Vatican could be a strategic move for someone with political ambitions of their own.
The timing of the president’s latest outburst has also raised eyebrows. Some speculate that his rivalry with Rubio might have played a role. “He believes in rivalry, in winning,” Vreede said. “Perhaps he’s trying to interfere with Rubio because Rubio is being a bit too diplomatic.” If that’s the case, it’s a risky gamble. The president’s attacks on the pope have not only alienated the Vatican but have also sparked outrage in Italy.
The whole situation feels like a throwback to a much darker era. The Vatican has made it clear that it’s not interested in playing political games, and the president’s attacks have only served to isolate the US further on the global stage. Rubio’s visit may have been an attempt to reset the narrative, but it’s hard to see how a single meeting can undo the damage of months of escalating rhetoric.
(Featured image: Gage Skidmore)
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