Motoko Rich

President Trump said the Italian leader had “begged” him to take a photo together at the Group of 7 summit in France. The remarks come as their once-friendly relationship has frayed.

Guido Crosetto, Italy’s defense minister, said in an interview that European nations should forge a new joint defense system and take greater responsibility for their own security.

The document marks a powerful foray by the leader of the Roman Catholic church into the debate about the misuse or overuse of artificial intelligence.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio flew to Rome this week after an unexpected spat between President Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, once one of the president’s best friends in Europe.

The meeting at the Vatican followed President Trump’s condemnation of Pope Leo XIV for opposing the war in Iran.

A year into his papacy, Leo has shown a readiness to challenge Washington, defying any concerns about the election of an American pontiff.

On his recent trip abroad, Leo XIV made some of his most forthright comments since becoming pope last year, but grew uncomfortable at how that criticism was interpreted.

Pope Leo responded directly on Monday to a presidential attack. But since then, he said, some of his statements during his Africa trip have been misconstrued.

After his election last year, Leo XIV developed a reputation as a mild-mannered mediator. President Trump’s attacks have made him more combative.