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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
World
Jim Manzon

Marco Rubio to Meet Pope Leo XIV Alone After JD Vance Gets Frozen Out in Major Diplomatic Snub

Rubio is expected to meet Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Parolin on 7 May, highlighting his prominence among Trump's officials. (Credit: X)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday in a one-on-one encounter that pointedly excludes Vice President JD Vance, marking a sharp break from the last time both men stood before the first American pope nearly a year ago.

A Vatican source confirmed to Reuters that Rubio is expected to sit down with Leo and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on 7 May. The meeting comes almost exactly a year after Rubio and Vance together attended Leo's inaugural Mass in St Peter's Square on 19 May 2025 and held a private audience with the pontiff the following day.

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