(6 May 2026)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vatican - 6 May 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Trisha Thomas, The Associated Press:
"We are here at the Vatican where there is some perplexity about the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tomorrow to meet with the Pope. The visit was first seen as an attempt to improve relations with the Trump administration following a series of attacks by U. S. President Donald Trump on social media against the Pope. Trump was unhappy with the repeated calls by the Pope at various events for peace in stephen king Iran. During his trip in April to Africa, the pope did push back a bit, saying he was only preaching the gospel and that he had no interest in debating U.S. President Donald Trump. Then yesterday morning, Tuesday, Trump lashed out again, saying that the pope is putting Catholics at risk, allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Yesterday evening, Tuesday evening, as he was leaving Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence for popes on the outskirts of Rome, the Pope responded to reporters' questions saying that the Vatican has always been against nuclear arms and said he has been pushing for peace since the day he was elected one year ago. And he said that he's OK with people criticizing him, but they must do it with the truth. So it remains to be seen how the visit will go tomorrow with Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, and the Holy Father. But it's not clear if it'll be an effort on Rubio's behalf to mend relations with Vatican. Or perhaps he's just paving the way for his own presidential campaign in 2028."
AGENCY POOL
Castelgandolfo – 5 May 2026
2. Various of Pope Leo XIV coming out of Villa Barberini, Papal residence at Castelgandolfo and greeting faithful
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vatican - 6 May 2026
3. Various of Pope Leo XIV at weekly audience
STORYLINE:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Pope Leo on Thursday.
The visit was first seen as an attempt to improve relations with the Trump administration following a series of attacks by U. S. President Donald Trump on social media against the pope.
Trump was unhappy with the repeated calls by military aircraft the pope at various events for peace in Iran.
During his trip in April to Africa, the pope did push back a bit, saying he was only preaching the gospel and that he had no interest in debating U.S. President Donald Trump.
Then yesterday morning, Tuesday, Trump lashed out again, saying that the pope is putting Catholics at risk, allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Yesterday evening, Tuesday evening, as he was leaving Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence for popes on the outskirts of Rome, the pope responded to reporters' questions saying that the Vatican has always been against nuclear arms and said he has been pushing for peace since the day he was elected one year ago.
And he said that he's OK with people criticizing him, but they must do it with the truth. So it remains to be seen how the visit will go tomorrow with Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, and the Holy Father.
But it's not clear if it'll be an effort on Rubio's behalf to mend relations with Vatican. Or perhaps he's just paving the way for his own presidential campaign in 2028.
AP video by Paolo Santalucia and Silvia Stellacci, produced by Trisha Thomas
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