Secretary of State Marco Rubio is meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome amid rising diplomatic tensions between the United States, Italy, and the Vatican. The visit follows Rubio’s talks with Pope Leo at the Vatican, which were widely seen as an attempt to ease friction after weeks of escalating rhetoric between President Donald Trump and the Holy See.

Trump’s previously close relationship with Meloni has come under strain due to disagreements over the war involving Iran and public criticism of the pope. Meloni rebuked Trump’s remarks about Pope Leo as unacceptable, prompting a sharp response from the president. The dispute has been politically sensitive in Italy, where the pope holds significant influence and criticism from foreign leaders can trigger domestic backlash.

Additional tensions have emerged over Italy’s limits on using its territory for combat-related operations tied to the Iran conflict, as well as concerns about potential troop reductions and trade tariffs. Rubio’s visit is viewed as an effort to stabilize relations and reaffirm cooperation on Middle East security, migration, trade, and coordination within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization before divisions deepen further.