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sop

(19,171 posts)
Fri May 8, 2026, 04:02 PM 13 hrs ago

' This awkward moment between Pope Leo and Marco Rubio doesn't speak well of the secretary of state'

(MS NOW) "On the eve of his one-year anniversary as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV received U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican. The meeting was not the result of an invitation extended by the pope, but a request made by the United States. In an exchange of gifts after the meeting, Rubio, a Catholic, presented the first American-born pope with a glass football etched with the logo of the secretary of state. Leo reciprocated by giving Rubio a pen of cedarwood, a symbol of peace."

"Leo’s response to what amounted to a glass football paperweight from Rubio? 'Wow. OK.' "

"I’m sure Rubio got the hint. A glass football isn’t the most thoughtful gift for a native Chicagoan who is such a fan of baseball’s White Sox that he even wore the team’s black cap with white lettering at the Vatican. But Rubio’s gift is emblematic of the fragile, fumbling relationship President Donald Trump and his administration have with Leo and the Holy See."

Continued at link:

https://www.ms.now/opinion/pope-leo-marco-rubio-donald-trump-iran-war

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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livetohike

(24,388 posts)
2. I still see him guzzling from a bottle of water during
Fri May 8, 2026, 04:15 PM
13 hrs ago

that one debate. Immature, incompetent and stupid 🙂.

unblock

(56,247 posts)
4. I remember that from a response to an Obama state of the union address
Fri May 8, 2026, 04:19 PM
13 hrs ago

But if that's the way he guzzles water, he may well have done it during a debate as well.

Irish_Dem

(82,138 posts)
6. Yes he is like a foolish child.
Fri May 8, 2026, 04:25 PM
13 hrs ago

Giving the Pope such a cheap immature ridiculous gift all about himself.

Yes the water guzzling episode was so stupid.

livetohike

(24,388 posts)
3. It's insulting. First of all, it's tacky. A glass football
Fri May 8, 2026, 04:17 PM
13 hrs ago

with the Secretary of State emblem? I have a small glass football with Steelers engraved on it.

That’s the best Rubio’s team could come up with? Amateurs.

sop

(19,171 posts)
5. You'd think Rubio, who's constantly quoting scripture, would maybe give Leo a bible engraved with his SoS seal.
Fri May 8, 2026, 04:23 PM
13 hrs ago

unblock

(56,247 posts)
7. This does not sound like an accident
Fri May 8, 2026, 04:28 PM
13 hrs ago

A propos of nothing football-related or even sports-related, this mafia-wannabe administration gives a reknowned religious leader and baseball fan a football gift.

Nothing religiously relevant, nothing spiritual, just a reference to a sport that isn't his favorite. Not even anything to do with a real football team or event.

I think this was their (stupid) idea of sending a message (mafia-style). Do as we want and we might give you a good gift. Do as we don't and you'll get crap. Or worse.

Not an accident. I mean of all the possible gifts, why a football? Clearly they did their research, found out he was a baseball fan, and deliberately decided to give him a football instead.



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