Italy Pope
Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists as he leaves his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, to return to the Vatican, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
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President Donald Trump is renewing his criticism of Pope Leo XIV. This is potentially complicating a fence-mending visit that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making this week to the Vatican. In an interview, Trump said the first American-born pontiff believes “it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” The pope, however, has not said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons. And Leo responded to Trump’s latest criticism by calling out the U.S. president’s misrepresentation of his views. Trump’s latest comments may make Rubio’s task more difficult when he sees the pontiff on Thursday. Rubio has often been called on to tone down or explain Trump’s harsh rhetoric as it relates to Europe, NATO and the Middle East.
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