U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to Rome this week for diplomatic meetings with Vatican and Italian government officials.

Rubio will be in the Italian capital on Thursday and Friday, according to reports from multiple news outlets. The timing coincides with the one-year anniversary of Pope Leo's papacy, who became the first U.S.-born pontiff.

According to reports, the visit is aimed at addressing tensions in relations between the United States and both the Vatican and the Italian government. The sources of strain in these diplomatic relationships were not detailed in initial reporting.

The meetings come amid broader diplomatic efforts by the new U.S. administration to engage with key allies and partners in Europe. Italy serves as a strategic partner for the United States in Mediterranean affairs and European Union relations.

Specific details about Rubio's planned meetings and agenda during the two-day visit have not been officially announced by the State Department or Italian officials.