Secretary of State Marco Rubio today tried to smooth over another conflict sparked by the Iran war, this one with the Pope.

A meeting between Rubio and Pope Leo came after President Trump repeatedly accused the pontiff of wanting Iran to have a nuclear weapon and of being, quote, weak on crime.

The Pope has responded in turn.

Stephanie Syre reports. Welcome Pope has responded in turn. Stephanie Sye reports.

How come? Welcome to the Vatican. Today, the U.S. dispatched its chief diplomat on a unique

mission to the Vatican.

Mr. Secretary, it's great to see you.

Holding a meeting with the pontiff himself in a bid to ease tensions between Washington

and the Holy See, amid President Trump's

repeated attacks against Pope Leo, chiefly on the Iran War. They exchanged pleasantries,

as well as gifts, in the Pope's private library. But the meeting was not all breaking bread.

Rubio, a practicing Catholic and the Pope, sat down to discuss, as the Vatican put it,

countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian conditions,

as well as on the need to work tirelessly in favor of peace.

The direct dialogue follows President Trump's war of words with the Pope on the need to work tirelessly in favor of peace. The direct dialogue follows President Trump's war of words with the Pope on the Iran conflict

and other issues like immigration.

Outside the Oval Office last month,

You could not have a nuclear Iran.

Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result.

You have hundreds of millions of people dead, and it's not going to happen.

So I can't. I think he's very weak on crime.

And earlier this week.

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