During a Q&A on foreign policy Wednesday, Sen. Marco Rubio took a shot at an unlikely public figure: Pope Francis.
After delivering a meaty speech outlining his hawkish foreign policy priorities at the Council on Foreign Relations, the Florida Republican criticized the 78-year-old pontiff’s take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the U.S.-Cuban standoff.
“His desire is peace and prosperity, he wants everyone to be better off. He’s not a political figure,” Rubio said. “Anything he can do to open up more opportunities for them, he’s going to pursue.”
Rubio contrasted that with his own approach.
“My interest as an elected official is the national security of the United States and embedded in that is the belief that it is not good for our people—or the people of Cuba—for an anti-American dictatorship 90 miles from our shores,” he said.
And asked about the Vatican’s support for separate states of Israel and Palestine, Rubio said the United States must stand with its ally Israel.
“It is the only free enterprise, democratic, pro-American country in the Middle East. If we had more free enterprise, pro-American democracies in the Middle East, my speech would be a lot shorter,” Rubio said.
Asked about his earlier support for separate states of Israel and Palestine, Rubio was dour: “I don’t think the conditions exist for that today.”
It won’t be the last time Pope Francis plays a role in U.S. presidential politics. He’s set to visit Philadelphia in September of 2015, as the presidential race gets even more heated.
Marco Rubio and his father outside his parents first home in Miami, Fla., 1972.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio in 6th grade.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio during the Southern Nevada youth football conference, Yesco Cavaliers in Las Vegas, Nev., 1982Courtesy Senator Marco RubioHigh school photograph of Marco Rubio from his 1989 yearbook.Courtesy South Miami Senior High SchoolSouth Miami Senior High yearbook photo of Marco Rubio in 1989.Courtesy South Miami Senior High SchoolFrom right Marco Rubio with his mother and sister Veronica during his graduation from the University of Miami law school in 1996. Veronica graduated from Florida international university bachelor’s degree.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio with his wife, Jeanette and his parents on his wedding day on Oct. 17, 1998.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioJeanette Rubio and Marco Rubio holding their youngest child Amanda Rubio in 2000.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioThen representative Marco Rubio talks with a colleague during House session in Tallahassee, Fla., on April 1, 2004. At age 32, Rubio was one of the youngest legislators.Phil Coale—APMarco Rubio greets Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, on his way to being sworn in as the new speaker of the Florida House in Tallahassee, Fla., on Nov. 21, 2006.Steve Cannon—APVice President Joe Biden swears in Senator Marco Rubio to the U.S. Senate, as his wife, Jeanette Rubio looks on, in Washington, on Jan. 5, 2010 .Mary F. Calvert—MCT/Getty ImagesMarco Rubio with his son, Anthony Rubio, father, Mario Rubio and daughter Amanda Rubio as he signs election documents officially qualifying him as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Miami, Fla., on April 27, 2010.Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesFrom left, Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek greet each other before the start of their debate at the studios of WESH-TV in Winter Park, Fla., on Oct. 26, 2010.Joe Burbank—MCT/Getty ImagesThen Florida Republican U.S. Senate nominee Marco Rubio celebrates with his family after winning the election in Coral Gables, Fla., on Nov. 2, 2010.Mike Stocker—MCT/Getty ImagesMarco Rubio and his sons Anthony, 5, right, and Dominic, 3, make their way to a swearing in ceremony for the 112th Congress in the Old Senate Chamber in Washington on Jan. 5, 2011.Tom Williams—Roll Call/Getty ImagesSenator Marco Rubio during a visit to the El Paso sector of the United States/Mexico border on Nov. 4, 2011.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioSenator Marco Rubio greets fans and signs copies of his book "An American Son" at Books and Books in Coral Gables, Fla., on June 30, 2012.Aaron Davidson—Getty ImagesFormer Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks with Senator Marco Rubio while flying from Pensacola to Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 27, 2012.Emmanuel Dunand—AFP/Getty ImagesSenator Marco Rubio listens to a question alongside Senator John McCain, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Robert Menendez and Senator Dick Durbin during a press conference on an agreement for principles on comprehensive immigration reform framework at the US Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 28, 2013.Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images
