Talks with Meloni, Vatican Services, and Potential Papal Meeting

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday for a second day of discussions focused on tariffs. Following their talks, he attended Good Friday services at the Vatican, sparking speculation about a possible meeting with the Pope over the weekend.

Meloni greeted Vance with a lighthearted remark upon his arrival at the Chigi Palace. Their meeting followed a previous encounter in the Oval Office, where President Donald Trump praised Meloni's stance on migration. However, Trump did not concede on tariff plans, which have strained relations with the European Union and raised concerns about a potential recession.

A joint statement released by the White House and Meloni's office announced that Trump would visit Italy "in the very near future." The statement also mentioned the possibility of a meeting between the U.S. and Europe during the visit.

Vance, a convert to Catholicism, attended Good Friday services with his family in St. Peter's Basilica. He was scheduled to meet with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on Saturday. While no official meeting with Pope Francis was announced, and the Pope did not attend the Good Friday service or the Way of the Cross procession, a possible audience with Vance was not ruled out.

The Pope has recently reduced his work schedule due to health concerns. Francis and Vance have previously clashed over migration policies and the Trump administration's plans for deportations. Francis has emphasized the importance of caring for migrants, while Vance has expressed different views.

Meloni has positioned herself as a mediator between the U.S. and Europe. She shares ideological similarities with Trump on issues like migration and traditional values. However, Italy and the U.S. have differing views on support for Ukraine, and Trump's tariff threats have put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests.

Vance reaffirmed the friendship between the U.S. and Italy and informed Meloni about developments in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations. He also mentioned that "big trade negotiations" would continue. Vance, like Trump, seemed impressed by Meloni's Italian language skills.