The Vatican says the “need to work tirelessly in favor of peace” was discussed in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio visited Rome on a fence-mending visit after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV. The meetings on Thursday were aimed at easing tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV. Rubio met with Leo and then Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in a visit that lasted 2½ hours. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that Rubio and Leo discussed the situation in the Middle East “and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere.