Catholic leader Pope Leo XIV and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio were scheduled for a "frank" meeting on Thursday.

The agenda of the meeting was to improve relations between the Vatican and Washington at a time when President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the pontiff.

Leo ‌and Rubio "renewed the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations," the Vatican said in a statement after the first meeting between the pope and a Trump cabinet official in nearly a year, amid an atmosphere of tension with Washington.

Pope Leo and Rubio exchange symbolic gifts to mend relations at Vatican meeting

Rubio was also seen giving the Pope a small "crystal football".

He joked that he knew that Leo, originally from Chicago and known as a fan of the White Sox, was more of a "baseball guy."

While Pope Leo XIV gave Rubio a small "pen........

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