US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has concluded a two-hour visit to the Vatican, where he engaged in discussions with Pope Leo. The initial meeting was followed by a session with senior Vatican officials, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomat, as reported by Reuters. However, neither the Vatican nor the US State Department provided immediate details regarding the content of their discussions.

In another development, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič announced that significant advancements were made during a lengthy six-hour meeting aimed at finalizing the US trade agreement that has been under discussion since last summer. These discussions, known as “trilogue talks,” involve representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, and member states and are a crucial step in the EU ratification process, which is currently testing the limits of patience for US President Donald Trump.

Although there were no resolutions on the amendments proposed by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), both Šefčovič and Bernd Lange, the chair of the trade committee, suggested that a compromise may be imminent. The duration of the talks was double the initially allocated time, indicating a serious commitment to reaching a resolution. Šefčovič expressed on LinkedIn that he had three main goals: to demonstrate the EU’s commitment to its obligations, to ensure a result that aligns with the EU-US Joint Statement, and to safeguard the interests of EU stakeholders by providing the necessary tools for enforcing the agreement.

Last Friday, President Trump threatened to increase tariffs on European automobiles in response to what he perceives as delays from the EU in the trade negotiations. These delays were partially influenced by his foreign policy decisions, which prompted the European Parliament to pause the ratification process due to concerns over tariff increases and other contentious issues.

MEPs are advocating for three amendments to the agreement, including a sunset clause that would terminate the deal in March 2028 unless renewed, a sunrise clause enabling the deal to activate on the EU side if the US adheres to its commitments, and a suspension clause.

In a separate statement, Eva Hrncirova, a spokesperson for the European Commission, reassured the public regarding the new hantarivus, asserting that the risk to European citizens remains low. She emphasized that the health of EU citizens is a top priority and that the EU is collaborating closely with the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to monitor the situation.

In Brussels, the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining its presence in Kyiv, despite warnings from Russia about potential retaliatory strikes and calls for foreign organizations to evacuate. Anouar El Anouni, an EU foreign affairs spokesperson, stated that the EU would not alter its stance or diminish its presence in Kyiv, where Russian aggression is a daily occurrence.

Meanwhile, Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar visited Palazzo Chigi in Rome for discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Although he officially assumes office this weekend, he was greeted by a senior advisor to Meloni outside the Palazzo.

Earlier, Pope Leo met with Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who described the encounter as a productive precursor to the significant transatlantic discussions involving Marco Rubio. Tusk indicated that their conversation covered various topics, including a potential papal visit to Poland in 2028, international affairs, and military issues concerning Ukraine and Europe.

Tusk expressed that the meeting highlighted the numerous complex challenges facing the leaders, as he is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Meloni and Secretary of State Rubio later in the day. Meanwhile, Rubio’s visit to the Vatican is seen as an effort to alleviate tensions following Trump’s critical remarks about the Pope, including accusations regarding nuclear weapons and the Pope’s stance on the Iran conflict.

In response to Trump’s criticisms, Pope Leo stated, “If anyone wishes to criticize me for preaching the gospel, let them do so truthfully: the Church has long opposed all nuclear weapons.”