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Rubio plays down Trump attacks on pope before Vatican trip

On the eve of a Vatican visit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio played down President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, who maintained calls for promoting peace.

Published May 5, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT | WFMZZ

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday played down President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV as he prepared for a Vatican visit. The pope, according to reports, stood firm in calling for the promotion of peace. Rubio’s comments came on the eve of the trip.