Rubio Defends Trump’s Misstatement About Pope Francis on Iran Nuclear Weapons Before Vatican Meeting

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that his upcoming trip to the Vatican is an attempt to ease tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and Pope Leo XIV, despite ongoing friction between the president and the Catholic leader.

The diplomatic visit, scheduled for May 6-8, comes amid a series of controversial statements from Trump, including his unfounded claim that the Pope supports Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and a widely criticized social media post depicting the president as a Christ-like figure.

“The trip is really not tied to anything other than the fact it would be normal to engage with them,” Rubio told reporters during a White House press briefing on Tuesday. According to the State Department, Rubio will discuss “the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere” during his Vatican visit.

Despite Rubio’s insistence that the trip is routine, his comments appeared to echo Trump’s baseless allegations against the Pope. When asked whether he agrees with the president’s claim that the pontiff’s peace advocacy endangers Catholics, Rubio attempted to reframe Trump’s statements.

“I think what the president basically said is Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon because they would use it in places where there’s a lot of Catholics and Christians and others,” Rubio explained. “He doesn’t understand why anybody — leave aside the Pope — would think that it’s a good idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon.”

The diplomatic tension occurs against the backdrop of a U.S.-Iran conflict now entering its ninth week under a fragile ceasefire. Trump has repeatedly mischaracterized the Pope’s position, claiming during a recent appearance on “The Hugh Hewitt Show” that Pope Leo “would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

“I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people,” Trump continued. “He thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

These assertions directly contradict the Pope’s actual statements. The Vatican has consistently advocated for global nuclear disarmament, with Pope Leo specifically addressing Trump’s misrepresentations during remarks Tuesday outside the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo.

“The Church has spoken for years against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there,” the pontiff clarified. “I have already spoken from the very first moment of being elected, and now we are close to the anniversary. I said, ‘Peace be with you,’ and the Church’s mission is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace.”

The Pope added, “If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully. And so I simply hope to be listened to for the value of God’s words.”

The clash between Trump and the Catholic leader has intensified in recent months. Pope Leo labeled as “unacceptable” Trump’s threat to eliminate Iranian civilization and has consistently urged nonviolence as the U.S. engages in military action against Iran. Further complicating relations, the Pope recently appointed three U.S. bishops who have previously expressed criticism of the Trump administration or its supporters.

Rubio’s diplomatic mission represents the highest-level contact between the Trump administration and the Vatican since these tensions escalated. Political analysts suggest the visit could be crucial for maintaining communication channels between Washington and the Holy See during a period of strained relations, particularly as both navigate complex geopolitical challenges in the Middle East.

As Rubio prepares for his Vatican meetings, the administration faces growing pressure to clarify its stance toward the Catholic Church and its leadership—a relationship that could influence millions of Catholic voters in the United States ahead of future elections.