Pope Leo XIV will hold official meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

On Thursday, May 7, the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace will host important diplomatic talks: Pope Leo XIV will receive U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. According to Vatican News, the pontiff will discuss with the world leaders current issues on the international agenda.

According to the schedule released by the Holy See Press Office, the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled for 11:30 am. The US diplomat is expected to arrive at the Vatican by 11:15. It is worth noting that this is not the first interaction between the two sides: Rubio has already met with Pope Leo XIV, who is a native of Chicago, on May 18, 2025, as part of the celebrations marking the beginning of his pontificate. In addition, the day after the enthronement, the pope held a bilateral meeting with Rubio and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.

The pontiff’s working morning will begin even earlier: at 9:00 a.m., Pope Leo XIV will have an audience with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. These meetings emphasize the intensity of the Vatican’s diplomatic efforts in dialogue with key Western partners.

Recall, earlier US President Donald Trump made a harsh statement against Pope Leo XIV, calling him «absolutely incompetent in matters of foreign policy.» The reason for criticism were the pontiff’s statements regarding the war with Iran and American foreign policy in general.