Pope Leo XIV and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on Thursday during the latter’s trip to Rome, with hopes of improving relations between the Vatican and Washington at a time when United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the pontiff.

On Friday, Leo marks his first year leading the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.

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Here is what happened during the meeting , and whether it signals a thaw between the Vatican and Washington.

What happened at the meeting – and afterwards?

Pope Leo and Rubio “renewed the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations”, the Vatican said in a statement following the first meeting between the pope and a Trump cabinet official in nearly a year amid an atmosphere…