Pope Leo XIV handed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio an olive-wood 'plant of peace' pen at the Vatican on Thursday, just two days after Donald Trump accused both Rubio and the pontiff of effectively backing nuclear weapons for Iran.
The meeting in Rome came after weeks of rancour between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, with the Pope repeatedly denouncing the conflict and urging ceasefires, and Trump responding by alleging that the Catholic leader was putting believers at risk.
Rubio's visit was widely seen in Washington and Rome as an attempt to steady relations between the US administration and the Vatican, which have frayed as the war has dragged on and political temperatures have risen.
Rubio arrived at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday for his audience with Pope Leo XIV and, as protocol requires, came bearing a gift.
He presented the Pope with a small glass football etched with the US State Department seal, joking that he knew the pontiff was a 'baseball guy' but had settled on 'a crystal football' for a man who 'has everything.'
The offering landed with a thud on social media. Images of the clear, rounded keepsake quickly circulated online, promptinga torrent of mockery from users who saw it as a bland, last-minute choicerather than a carefully considered diplomatic gesture.
Marco Rubio: 'What to get someone who has everything? I thought a crystal football'Pope: 'ok'pic.twitter.com/gr0sWA9bAO
'Did he pick that up in the duty-free shop?' one user on X asked. Another dubbed the secretary of state 'Lil' Marco (DJ name)' and dismissed the item with a shrug: 'A paperweight? That's the best you could do?'
Did he pick that up in the duty free shop
A paperweight? That's the best you could do, Lil' Marco? (DJ name)
Source: International Business Times UK
