Colbert Mocks Marco Rubio’s ‘Small Crystal Football’ Gift to Pope Leo: ‘They Got It With Their Sports Illustrated’
The Vatican said the talks were cordial and focused on the Middle East, war-torn countries and peace.
- On Thursday, United States Senator Marco Rubio visited the Vatican to meet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, gifting the Pontiff a crystal football featuring the State Department seal.
- Pope Leo XIV presented Rubio with a pen crafted from olive wood, describing the gift as "the plant of peace," creating a stark contrast in diplomatic symbolism.
- Social media users debated the unconventional gift, with some labeling it "tacky" and questioning the logic of presenting sports memorabilia, while others defended it as a "nice touch."
- Following the meeting, the Vatican stated discussions were "cordial" and covered countries affected by war and humanitarian crises, while State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said it "underscored the strong relationship" between the United States and the Holy See.
- Rubio's visit occurred amid President Donald Trump's ongoing criticism of the Pope regarding Iran and nuclear weapons, adding political complexity to the encounter focused on humanitarian conditions and peace.
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Diplomatic DISASTER: Vatican Humiliates Rubio Publicly…
A crystal football gift from Secretary Rubio to Pope Leo XIV sparked a viral diplomatic snub, exposing raw fractures in U.S.-Vatican ties over the Iran war. Timeline of the Tense Encounter President Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV on Monday, charging the first American pope with endangering Catholics and backing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Pope Leo countered by reaffirming Church opposition to all nuclear weapons and urging truthful criticism. Secreta…
‘How Pathetic’: Rubio Brings the Wrong Gift to the Pope While Cleaning Up Trump's Papal Feud — and the Pontiff's Savage Response Has Folks in Stitches
President Donald Trump shocked the world on Easter Sunday when threaten the people of Iran, and if that wasn’t enough, he also began a feud with Pope Leo XIV. After the pontiff called for an end to Trump’s illegal war in Iran while adding that the POTUS has a “delusion of omnipotence,” the 79-year-old accused the Pope of being “WEAK on Crime” and of hurting the Catholic Church. He then canceled $11 million in funding for Catholic Charities, and …
Vatican City. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Vatican yesterday to rebuild relations and underline strong bilateral ties, following President Donald Trump's assault on Pope Leo XIV for his opposition to the war in Iran.
Normally, it is best to give a gift with symbolic meaning.
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