Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel alone to Rome to meet Pope Leo XIV, sidelining Vice President J.D. Vance and fueling fresh speculation about the 2028 presidential race. Catholic convert Vance appears to have missed his chance at a reunion with Pope Leo after Rubio was tapped for the May 7 meeting at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. Both men traveled to Rome last year to meet the Pope, but this time the invitation went only to Rubio. The meeting also comes after Pope Leo declined Vance's invitation to visit the White House.