ROME — On Friday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome to engage in a second round of discussions focused on tariffs. Later, he joined Good Friday services at the Vatican amid speculation about a potential meet-up with the Pope over the weekend.
As Vance approached Chigi Palace, the official residence of Italy’s premier, Meloni greeted him humorously, remarking, “I’ve been missing you.” The two leaders had previously met in the Oval Office a day earlier. During that meeting, former President Trump commended Meloni for her stringent migration policies, while tensions between the U.S. and the European Union concerning tariffs remained unresolved.
Following their Friday meeting, both the White House and Meloni’s office released a joint statement indicating that Trump has plans to visit Italy in the near future. Additionally, the statement mentioned consideration for a U.S. and Europe meeting during that visit.
Vance, known for his Catholic faith, participated in Good Friday services at St. Peter’s Basilica. Accompanied by his wife and three children, Vance planned further meetings with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, on Saturday. Though no official audience with Pope Francis was scheduled, the possibility was not entirely off the table.
The current health condition of the 88-year-old Pope, recovering from severe pneumonia, left his participation in Easter services uncertain. While Francis recently met King Charles III, his contentious history with Vance over migration policies lingered. Vance previously criticized the Pope’s stance on migration, but more recently, expressed well-wishes for his recovery.
Disagreements between Vance and Francis have been evident, particularly concerning the Trump administration’s migration policies, which plan mass deportations. While Francis champions migrant care as a cornerstone of his papacy, Vance draws on medieval Catholic doctrine to justify America’s strict migration measures.
In a February letter, Francis directly responded to those policies, clarifying Catholic teachings, stating that Christian love involves openness to all individuals.
Despite criticisms, Vance has maintained his stance, acknowledging the Pope’s perspective but emphasizing his own commitments. Reflecting on his duties during Good Friday, Vance expressed gratitude for his role and offered blessings to Christians worldwide.
In her role, Meloni has acted as an intermediary between Trump’s administration and the European Union. As a far-right political leader, she aligns with Trump on varying political matters. However, divergence arose over handling Ukraine-related issues and trade tariffs.
After causing a bond market scare, Trump adjusted his tariff plans, scaling back imminent hikes on EU imports from 20% to an interim 10% for three months, though he has no urgency in finalizing trade deals.
Vance reiterated the strong relationship between Italy and the U.S., promising to keep Meloni updated on developments in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, and noted ongoing trade discussions. Vance, lacking Italian language skills, humorously noted that even if Meloni used harsh words, he wouldn’t take offense due to their melodic nature.