Vatican

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) - a rebel group of ultra-conservative Catholics - was excommunicated after four bishops were ordained without Pope Leo's approval on Wednesday.

The pope also expressed hope earlier that Madrid would "remain a welcoming and inclusive city, where social life is inspired by genuine human values."

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a native of Chicago’s South Side, repeatedly advocated after his selection last year for the release of the Israeli hostages.

The remarks mark the most explicit papal admission to date of institutional responsibility, going beyond Pope Francis's condemnation of modern-day slavery.

Rubio met Pope Leo at the Vatican amid growing tensions after Trump repeatedly criticized the pontiff over his opposition to the Iran war.

Responding to Trump's latest attack later on Tuesday, Leo said he wanted to spread the Christian message by speaking about peace, but that people were free to criticize him.

Disputes over Iran, Lebanon, NATO, and diplomatic legitimacy are testing the cohesion of the Western alliance.

Trump added that Pope Leo "should be thankful," as the only reason he had been elected to the Vatican was "because he was an American" who would be able to "deal with President Donald J. Trump."

"This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," Pope Leo, the first US pope, told crowds.

The custom at such international gatherings is to shake hands with the people on either side. Then-Israeli president Moshe Katsav was seen shaking hands with then-Iranian president Mohammad Khatami.