Rubio in Rome to mend relations with Holy See and Italia, sees the Pope and Meloni

Technical thaw tests along the US-Vatican City-Italy axis. The week that has opened will see the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome, from 6 to 8 May. The first objective is a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, on Thursday 7, after the criticism expressed by US President Donald Trump against the Pontiff. As for Italia and the Italian government, instead, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will meet him on Friday 8 May at 11.30 am. This is what is stated in the agenda of Palazzo Chigi.

Friday there will be a bilateral meeting between Rubio and Farnesina titular Antonio Tajani and then a working lunch - most likely enlarged to include other ministries, including Defence Minister Guido Crosetto - at Villa Madama.

The first appointment is therefore on Thursday 7 May, at 11.30am at the Apostolic Palace. There Rubio will see Pope Leo XIV and then the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The 54-year-old former senator from Florida, of Cuban origin and Catholic faith, will try to mend the rift generated by the tycoon during his official visit to Rome.

The US Secretary of State's tour of meetings will certainly be under the banner of the 'thaw' of bilateral relations, not only with the Vatican but also with Italia. In the last few weeks there has been no lack of strikes by US President Donald Trump against Meloni and Italia, both because of the premier's stance after the US president's attacks on the Pope and because of Rome's failure to support Washington in the Iran war.

The distance between Meloni and Trump emerged last month after the PM called Trump's attacks on the Pope 'unacceptable'. Trump, for his part, said he was 'shocked' by Meloni's stance on the Iran war in an interview with Corriere della Sera, accusing her of a lack of courage. Trump also said last week that he was prepared to reduce the US troop presence in Italia, a threat that may seem more concrete after the Pentagon announced on Friday its intention to withdraw around 5,000 US troops from Germany, another Nato ally with which Trump is at odds.