Ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump told “EWTN News Nightly” that one message he wants to get to the Holy Father is: “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.”
“Well, I can tell you this, that as far as the pope is concerned, itʼs very simple, whether I make him happy or I donʼt make him happy, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told EWTN News’ Toby Capion when asked what message he hopes Rubio delivers to Leo at the May 7 meeting.
“And he seemed to be saying that they can [obtain a nuclear weapon], and I say they cannot because if that happened, the entire world would be hostage, and weʼre not going to let that happen,” he said. “Thatʼs my only message.”
Trump has repeated the claim several times that Leo believes Iran should be able to obtain a nuclear weapon; however, the pontiff has never said those words and has spoken out against nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and against nuclear weapons more broadly.
When speaking about the Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025, Leo said: “The commitment to creating a safer world, free from the nuclear threat, should be pursued through respectful encounter and sincere dialogue, to build a lasting peace, based on justice, fraternity, and the common good.”
On March 5, Leo spoke more broadly against nuclear weapons, saying: “May the nuclear threat never again dictate the future of humanity.”
During a news conference on May 5, Rubio told reporters that his May 7 meeting with Leo is not about the president’s criticism of the Holy Father. Rather, he said the meeting had already been scheduled.
“The trip is really not tied to anything other than the fact that it would be normal for us to engage with them and other secretaries of state have done that in the past,” Rubio said, noting common interests in religious freedom, Christian persecution, and humanitarian aid to Cuba.
