US-Vatican: Mending Fences

Four humble suggestions for the American administration to restart bilateral ties on the right foot.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is arriving in Rome on Thursday to meet with the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Pope Leo XIV. The apparent purpose is to mend relations after recent ruptures and friction.

However, given precedents, it is quite possible that these rifts will not be healed and may deepen. The Holy See is difficult to manage without long-standing familiarity. There are many issues that genuinely divide the Holy See and the United States. Yet today, more than ever, it is important that the United States — and indeed all other nations — maintain a good relationship with the Vatican, home to the world’s largest and most influential unified religion.

At the suggestion of Father Lorenzo Prezzi, here are four simple recommendations for how Rubio should approach the meeting:

1. He should not defend President Donald Trump. He certainly should not attack him either. Defending certain attitudes, slogans, and public statements would simply be out of place. At the Vatican, they are men of the world and know that many politicians over the centuries have played at being anti-papist. Trump is not the first and certainly won’t be the last. His gestures, while not causing extraordinary scandal on one hand, remain beyond any defensible justification on the other. To move past them, it is simply better to set them aside, hoping Trump will not insist on them.
2. Do not try to exploit divisions within the Church — for example, by implying that some bishops support Trump’s policies. That would be tantamount to lecturing the Pope on how to do his job. At that point, the Holy See would let him speak, but the divide would only deepen. Telling the Pope how to be Pope does not work.
3. Another trend that seems very fashionable in America is quoting the Bible, the Gospel, or theology to the Pope, Parolin, or the Vatican. These men have spent their lives studying these subjects and naturally believe — perhaps naively — that they know somewhat more about them than an American diplomat who, as a rule, does something else entirely. No one doubts the good faith of Rubio or his team, but to speak about theology, one must be a serious theologian — otherwise one simply makes no impression whatsoever. Or worse.
4. Do not tell the Vatican how to handle the Chinese. The Vatican has studied this matter for decades, and every step has been carefully considered and weighed over the tenure of many popes. One may offer suggestions and ideas, but getting in the way could prove unhelpful.

Instead, the final point is to look for something positive — to find common ground that genuinely helps the Church. One example is the protection of the sanctity of confession.

Some US states appear to be considering removing legal protection for the confessional in cases involving past crimes. But confession is a sacrament that has spanned centuries, reaching delicate balances. It would be most unfortunate if it were called into question in America, and there would be resistance.

With all of this out of the way, the visit won’t necessarily be a walk in the park, but perhaps some of the most irksome issues could be resolved.

Have a good trip to Rome, Mr. Secretary!