ROME — U.S. Vice President JD Vance spent Good Friday in Rome, balancing high-stakes international diplomacy with personal expressions of faith, as he met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni for a second round of discussions on transatlantic trade tensions before attending solemn services at the Vatican.
Meloni greeted Vance with humor at the Chigi Palace: “I’ve been missing you,” she joked, just a day after their joint meeting with former President Donald Trump in Washington. The Oval Office talks centered on tariffs that have stirred economic friction between the U.S. and the European Union, while Trump praised Meloni’s tough stance on immigration.
In a joint statement issued Friday, the White House and Meloni’s office confirmed Trump’s upcoming visit to Italy, noting the possibility of a broader U.S.-EU summit. The announcement suggests growing transatlantic efforts to recalibrate trade and diplomatic alignment as Trump signals a renewed assertive global posture.
Faith and Politics Intertwined
Later, Vance, a Catholic convert, attended the Good Friday liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica alongside his wife and children. The Pope did not preside due to ongoing health issues, but Vance is scheduled to meet Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday, sparking speculation of a possible private papal audience despite no official confirmation.
Tensions between Pope Francis and Vance are well-documented. The pontiff has publicly challenged Vance’s theological justification for hardline immigration policies, referencing the medieval concept of ordo amoris — a doctrine Vance uses to justify prioritizing national citizens over foreign migrants. In a February letter to U.S. bishops, Francis offered a pointed theological rebuttal, urging reflection on the parable of the Good Samaritan as the true expression of Christian love.
Meloni: The Diplomatic Bridge
Giorgia Meloni continues to play a complex balancing act between the Trump administration and the EU. As a staunch advocate of conservative values and a firm supporter of Ukraine, she’s seen as both ideologically aligned with Trump and strategically loyal to the EU bloc. Trump’s threats of steep tariffs have placed her in a delicate position, especially as she tries to defend Europe’s economic interests.
A brief spike in bond market instability led Trump to temporarily reduce planned tariffs—from 20% to a provisional 10% for 90 days—though he signaled little urgency to cement a broader agreement.
Meanwhile, Vance reaffirmed the U.S.-Italy alliance and offered Meloni insights into ongoing developments in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. “Big trade negotiations” would continue in the coming days, he assured.
With characteristic humor, Vance quipped about Meloni’s fluent Italian: “Of course, she could have called me a jerk and I wouldn’t know, but it would be in the most beautiful language imaginable.”
As Vance continues to rise on the world stage, this Good Friday in Rome encapsulated the fusion of his political clout, religious identity, and role in reshaping U.S.-Europe relations.