Trump's Criticism of Pope Leo XIV Overshadows Rubio's Vatican Visit
Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, sparking a public exchange that underscores the ongoing tensions between them, just as Marco Rubio prepares for his visit to the Vatican.
In a recent public exchange, Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, a move that has reignited longstanding tensions between the former president and the pontiff.
Trump's remarks, which label the pope as 'weak on crime' and 'terrible for foreign policy,' have drawn attention ahead of Marco Rubio's upcoming meeting with Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope.
Rubio, who is known for his devout Catholic faith, has stated that his visit to the Vatican is not intended to address these tensions, despite the backdrop of Trump's comments.
Updates
Update at 21:21 UTC on 2026-05-05
Le Monde reported Marco Rubio, a devout Catholic, is set to meet with the first American-born pope at the Vatican on Thursday. Last month, Trump took to social media to call the pope 'WEAK on crime, and terrible for foreign policy.' The remark came after Leo. Politico reported Rubio says Vatican trip not aimed at assuaging tensions with Pope Leo Politico.
Sources: Le Monde, Politico