Politics
Pope Leo XIV Appears Unimpressed After Marco Rubio Gives Him Awkward Gift: ‘Wow, Okay’
Marco Rubio may have, er, fumbled his Vatican visit after presenting Pope Leo XIV with a gift that left the pontiff visibly unimpressed.
During a Thursday, May 7, meeting at the Vatican, the secretary of state handed the Chicago-born pope — a known White Sox fan — a tiny crystal football emblazoned with the State Department seal, per a Daily Beast report.
“I know you’re a baseball guy, but … what do you get someone who has everything? I thought a crystal football,” Rubio, 54, joked while presenting the gift.
The pope’s response appeared less than enthusiastic.
“Wow, okay,” Leo, 70, replied awkwardly, per the outlet.
In contrast, the pontiff presented Rubio with a pen carved from olive wood, explaining that the olive branch symbolizes peace.
Rubio, a South Florida native and longtime Miami Dolphins fan, has frequently showcased his love of football publicly over the years.
The meeting comes amid growing tension between the Vatican and President Donald Trump over escalating conflict in Iran.
Pope Leo recently urged diplomacy and warned against war, while Trump, 79, accused the Catholic leader of “endangering a lot of Catholics” with his criticism of military action, per The Hill.
