Marco Rubio gave Pope Leo a crystal football, and everybody wondered what in the gift-shop tat he was thinking – 18 favourite funny responses
There has been something of a frosty relationship between the White House and the Vatican, despite Pope Leo XIV being an American. In fact, it’s probably because he’s an American that things have been so bad, as the Trump administration presumably believed he’d turn a blind eye to their cruelty and warmongering.
He didn’t.
Pope criticises 'tyrants' who spend billions on wars, days after Trump spat https://t.co/ZXRW8bKFG1
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 16, 2026
Trump has accused the Holy Father of being in favour of Iran’s nuclear programme – and crime!
Reporter: Why did you attack Pope Leo?
Trump: I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess. We don’t like a pope who says it’s ok to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a pope that says crime is ok. I am not a fan of Pope Leo. pic.twitter.com/cj3oh1jSIL
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 13, 2026
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is – at least on paper – a Roman Catholic, so it should have been quite meaningful for him when he was granted an audience with the Pope.
Met with @Pontifex to underscore our shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity. pic.twitter.com/BIZ9SfW5nY
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 7, 2026
Pope Leo received Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, in the Vatican this morning. pic.twitter.com/bYLJ1brh93
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 7, 2026
Apparently, Trump sent a message with Rubio. It wasn’t the conciliatory message it should have been.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump says he gave a MESSAGE to Marco Rubio to deliver to Pope Leo today
"I just said tell the Pope—very nicely, very respectfully—that Iran CANNOT have a nuclear weapon. So when he comes to their defense, also tell the Pope that Iran kiIIed 42,000 innocent… pic.twitter.com/Iq1RRqZhSm
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 8, 2026
As is traditional on these occasions, there was an exchange of gifts. The Pope gave Rubio an olive-wood pen – from ‘the plant of peace’, while Rubio presented the pontiff with a crystal football. A crystal American football, obviously – for the well-known baseball fan.
Here’s his reaction.
Marco Rubio: 'What to get someone who has everything? I thought a crystal football'
Pope: 'ok' pic.twitter.com/gr0sWA9bAO
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) May 7, 2026
He seems absolutely thrilled.
Whatever the Pope thought of the tat gift, tweeters weren’t impressed.
1.
Marco totally regifted that shit. https://t.co/UF4LpbsNyF
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) May 7, 2026
2.
this is really heartwarming. two men exchanging symbolic tokens of things the other has no interest in (football, peace)
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) May 7, 2026
3.
What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall when the Secretary of State's advisors told him to give the Holy Father a *checks notes* crystal football. pic.twitter.com/YkymeFxpe6
— Katie Prejean McGrady (@KatiePMcGrady) May 7, 2026
4.
OMG 🤣 https://t.co/nQC6r7qTaW
— Mike Nellis (@MikeNellis) May 7, 2026
5.
Rubio picked that Football up in the White House gift shop on his way to the airport for $30.pic.twitter.com/bbxnFpDoqh
— Pope Respecter (@poperespecter1) May 7, 2026
6.
This is the worst papal gift exchange between the United States and the Vatican since LBJ gave Pope Paul VI a bust of LBJ. https://t.co/q7ElEt0Rv2 pic.twitter.com/HtcEYGYB4O
— Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) May 7, 2026
7.
Rubio is so utterly ignorant. An Augustinian friar is a guy who has everything? https://t.co/LwXTErgUoG
— Bruno Maçães (@MacaesBruno) May 7, 2026
8.
Why in God’s name did Marco Rubio give the pope a crystal football? pic.twitter.com/Du4NKYDYVl
— Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) May 7, 2026
9.
"I know you're a baseball guy and this is a football but it has the seal of the state department"
Lol Rubio was meeting the vicar of Christ and just hastily grabbed some shit off his desk https://t.co/5Ct22yTGiq— ChristianTurtle ✝️🐢 (@CTurtEmoji) May 7, 2026