May 17, 2026
Pope Leo marked his first anniversary as head of the Catholic Church by calling on world leaders to calm global tensions and reduce hatred, one day after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican.
President Trump has publicly criticized Pope Leo over the pontiff's stance on Iran, accusing him of endangering Catholics, while the Pope denied Trump's claim that he supports nuclear weapons. The dispute comes ahead of Secretary of State Rubio's trip to Rome and marks what Vatican officials describe as an unprecedented low in U.S.-Vatican relations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican for talks with Pope Leo XIV in what observers view as an effort to repair strained relations between the White House and the Holy See. The Vatican emphasized the need to work for peace during the meeting, which follows weeks of tension including a reported clash over Iran policy.
Pope Leo XIV embarked on the first-ever papal trip to Algeria, calling for forgiveness in a speech paying tribute to victims of the country's war of independence from France. The visit marks the opening of an 11-day, four-nation African tour.