Marco Rubio to meet pope at the Vatican after Trump attacks on pontiff

US secretary of state will hold talks with Italian government, also berated by Trump for not supporting Iran war

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is to meet Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday in an effort to ease tensions after Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of the first North American pontiff.

Amid unprecedented strain on relations between the Holy See and Washington, Rubio is expected to meet Leo at the Apostolic Palace in the morning, before holding a series of meetings with the Italian government.