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The pontificate of Pope Leo XIV begins with an unmistakable sign of spiritual solemnity and doctrinal depth: the return to the Latin Mass, the use of Paul VI’s ferula, and an inaugural homily centered on the love of Christ and the humility of service. With over one hundred thousand faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, and delegations from every continent present, including political leaders of the West, the new Bishop of Rome offered not only a religious address but also an indirect message to the world—a message of unity, tradition, and hope.
When Leo XIV addressed the people with the words, “I come to you as a brother,” he did so with trembling hands and visible emotion. It was not the theatrical language of a worldly leader but the sincere voice of a man who views his ministry as service, not dominion. In a time of cultural disintegration, spiritual confusion, and geopolitical fragmentation, the Pope reaffirmed the Petrine role not as a seat of power, but as a pastoral office rooted in love and truth.
From Peter to Leo: A Church That Guides, Not Compromises
Quoting Saint Augustine—“You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you”—the Pope reaffirmed the primacy of God and the soul’s search for truth. In doing so, he set the theological tone for his pontificate: a return to the essentials of faith, without the concessions and ambiguities that, in recent decades, have often disoriented the faithful.
Leo XIV made it clear: the Church will not be a platform for ideology, nor a space for political activism dressed in religious garb. His message was one of unity—but a unity based on faith, not relativism. His emphasis on the Church as a “family walking together” rejected clericalism and authoritarianism, while defending the sacred authority of Tradition. The Holy Father spoke of the ministry of Peter as “marked by sacrificial love,” not by “propaganda, domination, or self-promotion.” In a Church divided and often self-referential, this was a breath of fresh air.
Continuity Through Grief: From Francis’s Funeral to a Renewed West
To fully understand the spiritual and geopolitical significance of Leo XIV’s first steps, one must revisit the funeral of Pope Francis. That moment of collective mourning brought together heads of state, religious leaders, and ordinary faithful in a shared awareness of the end of a historical chapter. But it also marked the beginning of something new.
Amid the solemnity of the funeral, an unexpected and symbolic event took place: a private meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. At a time when tensions were running high, and the rift between parts of the Western alliance seemed irreparable, that encounter signaled the beginning of a thaw—a cautious but significant gesture toward unity.
It is precisely in the wake of this new openness that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken up the mantle of bridge-builder. She was present at Pope Francis’s funeral. She understood—perhaps before others—that Italy could and should play a central role in reconciling the strategic interests of the West with its spiritual foundations.
Meloni’s Day of Diplomacy: Rome as the Capital of the West
On the very day of Leo XIV’s enthronement, while the liturgical ceremony was unfolding in the heart of Christendom, Rome also hosted a trilateral political summit of extraordinary significance. Giorgia Meloni welcomed U.S. Vice President JD Vance and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Palazzo Chigi, underscoring Italy’s centrality in the Atlantic dialogue.
Far from a symbolic photo-op, the meeting addressed substantial issues: trade tariffs, cooperation on energy and technology, and coordination on global challenges, including support for Ukraine and the stabilization of the Middle East. But the setting and the timing were anything but accidental.
While St. Peter’s Square resonated with sacred hymns, just a few streets away, leaders of the West discussed the future of the global order. This parallelism sent a powerful message: Rome is once again the spiritual and political heart of Western civilization. And at the center of it all stands Giorgia Meloni.
JD Vance, the emerging figure of the American conservative movement aligned with former President Trump, spoke plainly: “Prime Minister Meloni is a good friend. She has offered to build a bridge between the United States and Europe, and both President Trump and I are happy to accept.” His words were not mere diplomacy—they confirmed the formation of a new strategic axis between conservative forces in the West.
Ursula von der Leyen, often seen as representing a different vision of Europe, did not hide her appreciation: “We share the largest commercial relationship in the world, worth over $1.5 trillion a year. We exchanged papers, and our teams are working on the details. What unites us is the desire to reach a good agreement for both sides.”
Meloni, recalling her recent visit to Washington, emphasized that she had proposed this meeting a month ago during talks with Donald Trump: “I am proud to host two of the leaders of the U.S. and the EU. Italy’s role is to facilitate dialogue.”
A New Foreign Policy, Rooted in Identity
For decades, Italy was perceived as a secondary player in international diplomacy. But Meloni has rewritten the script. Her government has proven that one can be sovereignist and internationalist, conservative and effective. Through calm diplomacy, firm values, and consistent leadership, she has placed Italy at the heart of transatlantic relations.
Gone are the days of meaningless appeasement or dependency on bureaucratic centralism. Instead, Italy now speaks with its own voice—confident, rooted, and respected. The warm embrace between Zelensky and Meloni during the Pope’s enthronement, in front of President Mattarella and international cameras, was not just an emotional moment. It was the visual confirmation that Italy is not isolated. On the contrary: it is increasingly seen as a central node in the network of Western leadership.
Even Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Meloni within the Vatican walls, confirming the strategic partnership between Italy and Israel—especially in the technological, scientific, and energy sectors. This relationship, reaffirmed since Herzog’s February visit to Rome, is a cornerstone of Italy’s Middle East diplomacy.
Leo XIV and Meloni: Two Roles, One Mission
While Pope Leo XIV calls the Church to become a sign of unity and reconciliation, Giorgia Meloni positions Italy to be a political bridge, capable of building consensus without surrendering sovereignty. In an age where chaos often substitutes for leadership, and ideology for wisdom, these two figures represent stability—one spiritual, one temporal.
Leo XIV’s decision to highlight Paul VI as a reference figure is revealing. Paul VI closed the Second Vatican Council, navigating the Church through turbulent times with prudence and fidelity. Likewise, Leo XIV appears determined to reconnect the Church with its doctrinal roots without closing it off from dialogue. His emphasis on charity as the “true authority” of Rome speaks volumes: it’s not about power, but about credibility.
The West Reforged in Rome
In a single day, the Eternal City reminded the world of its perennial vocation: to unite rather than divide, to build rather than destroy. The enthronement of a Pope who calls himself “brother” and rejects ecclesiastical vanity was accompanied by the rise of a stateswoman who commands respect not by force, but by consistency and vision.
Rome is once again the hinge of the West. Under the shadow of St. Peter’s dome, geopolitics and faith met in harmony. And from this new synergy, a message emerged: tradition is not the enemy of progress, and strong roots do not prevent dialogue—they enable it.
In an age of uncertainty, the conservative voice has returned to the center—not to impose, but to remind the West of who it is. That voice now speaks both in the pulpit of St. Peter’s and in the halls of Palazzo Chigi.