Pope Leo Urges Calm After Rubio Meeting

Pope Leo urged political leaders to calm international tensions and turn away from war Friday as diplomatic friction between the Vatican and Washington intensified following his recent criticism of the Iran conflict.

Speaking before thousands gathered in Pompei near Naples to mark the first anniversary of his papacy, Leo asked worshippers to pray that God would inspire world leaders to overcome “hatreds” and reject violence.

The remarks came a day asourceser the pope held a closed-door meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican. The talks took place amid tensions with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Leo over his opposition to the Iran war.

Vatican Signals Uneasy Relations

The Vatican said asourceser the Rubio meeting that both sides committed to improving bilateral relations, wording analysts described as unusually cautious and reflective of deeper diplomatic strains.

Rubio later said ties between the United States and the Catholic Church remained strong despite disagreements between Trump and the pope.

Leo, the first American pope and former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, has become increasingly vocal in recent months against war, authoritarianism and the global arms trade.

During Friday’s speech, the pontiff warned that peace was being threatened by “international tensions” and economies prioritizing weapons over human life.

Pope Praises Refugee Efforts

Later in Naples, Leo praised Italian organizations helping refugees arriving from Gaza and urged governments not to become accustomed to scenes of war and suffering.

The pope’s increasingly direct interventions on global conflicts have elevated his international profile during his second year as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.