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The United States Ambassador in Italy, Tilman J. Fertitta, posted a message on his X account this Monday highlighting the visit of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Rome last week and praised the work of the U.S. diplomatic team in the country.
Fertitta described it as a "privilege" to have hosted Rubio and emphasized that during his visit, the Secretary personally met with the U.S. Tri-Mission team in Rome to thank them for their "exceptional service."
"From advancing the strategic priorities of the U.S. to strengthening our bilateral ties with Italy, these professionals are the backbone of our diplomacy," wrote the ambassador, who added that he feels "proud to lead such a talented group that makes a real difference on the global stage."
The visit of Rubio to Rome took place from May sixth to eighth, focusing on strengthening relations with Italy and the Vatican during a time of diplomatic tensions.
On May 7, Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV in the private library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, in a meeting that the Secretary himself described as "very cordial and important."
It was the second meeting between the two; the first took place on May 19, 2025, a day after the inaugural mass of the pontificate.
Among the topics discussed werehumanitarian aid to Cuba through the Catholic Church, the Iranian threat, the situation in the Middle East, and religious freedom.
Rubio also warned the Pope about the threat posed by Iran and met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, who is in charge of relations with states.
On May 8, the Secretary met with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, thus completing a high-level bilateral agenda.
The visit also aimed to mend tensions caused by President Donald Trump's public criticisms of Pope Leo XIV, whom he accused of "endangering Catholics" due to his positions on Iran.
Rubio, a conservative Catholic of Cuban descent, was appointed as a privileged interlocutor to mend those relations with the Vatican.
The U.S. Tri-Mission in Rome, one of the largest diplomatic missions in the world, comprises three entities: the Embassy to Italy, the Embassy to the Holy See, and the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome.
Fertitta was nominated by Trump in December 2024 and confirmed by the Senate on April 29, 2025, with broad bipartisan support of 83 votes in favor and 14 against.
The Cuban regime, for its part, celebrated Rubio's visit to the Vatican as a recognition of Pope Leo XIV's role, in an attempt to diplomatically capitalize on the contacts between Washington and the Holy See regarding the situation on the island.
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