Megan Williams

Yeah, it's been an unusually public rupture.

Pope Leo has been a firm critic of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

He's called for diplomacy and warned against the use of force.

Really nothing out of the ordinary for a Catholic leader.

But Trump hasn't liked it.

And in April, he called the Pope weak and terrible on foreign policy.

Then on Monday, Trump went further.

He said the Pope was endangering a lot of Catholics by opposing the war.

Now, Leo pushed back when speaking to reporters near Rome on Tuesday.

He said the mission of the church is to preach peace and that the Catholic Church has spoken out for years against nuclear arms.

So with this back and forth, Rubio's meeting with the Pope is really not a routine diplomatic visit.

He has the awkward assignment of trying to smooth relations with the Vatican as Trump keeps picking fights with the Pope.

The Pope is worried about Iran, but also about other issues in the Middle East.

Here's Vatican expert Massimo Fagioli.

So the Pope is worried about the Middle East, Israel and Lebanon, especially, says Fagioli, about the risks to the shrinking Christian communities in those countries.

Now, Rubio has said he will discuss Cuba and religious freedom around the world, issues where the Vatican has really long played a key diplomatic role.

But Rubio has a hard job.

He has to show respect for the Pope while representing an administration whose leader has repeatedly attacked the Pope.

And he has to avoid irritating the Vatican in ways Vice President J.D.

Vance has by claiming Catholic teachings support the harsh crackdown on immigration and other things.