US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Vatican on Thursday (May 7), where he met with Pope Leon XIV to emphasize strong bilateral ties, following fierce attacks by American President Donald Trump against the Pope over the Pontiff’s opposition to the war in Iran. These attacks outraged the Holy See, resulting in confrontation between the two sides. However, the gift from the head of American diplomacy was original and is seen as a diplomatic “reconciliation” move.
Rubio’s Vatican visit: The gift to the Pope that left everyone speechless
During his meeting with the Pope, the head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, surprised everyone at the Vatican by gifting the Pontiff a football made of glass. “What do you give someone who has everything? Well, something that shines as brightly as his legacy… and this bears the seal of the State Department,” Rubio said characteristically.
Gift exchanges on such occasions are customary, however the American Secretary of State’s gift was original and accompanied by many smiles. For his part, Pope Leon XIV gifted Marco Rubio a pen.
Rubio meets with Vatican’s Foreign Minister
The US Secretary of State, during his visit, also met with the Vatican’s Foreign Minister, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in a meeting which “highlighted the enduring partnership between the United States and the Holy See in promoting religious freedom,” according to the State Department.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement regarding the meeting with the Pope, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott emphasized that the two men discussed the situation in the Middle East “and issues of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere. The meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity.”
Marco Rubio deja a todos boquiabiertos en el Vaticano.
El secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos llegó hoy ante el papa León XIV y, con una sonrisa, le entregó un regalo tan original como simbólico: un balón de fútbol… ¡de cristal!
Rubio, con su característico ingenio,… pic.twitter.com/gRevxVHfrw
— Jhonf Fonseca (@Jhonffonseca) May 7, 2026
