Prime Minister Mark Carney has concluded his visit to Rome, Italy, and Vatican City, where he attended the historic inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square. Carney joined delegations and counterparts from around the world for the ceremony marking the beginning of the first American papacy.
Following the Mass, Prime Minister Carney held a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV, during which he thanked His Holiness for his message of unity, compassion, and peace. The meeting underscored the significance of the occasion and the Pope’s call for global cooperation amid growing divisions.
During his time in Italy, Carney also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the President of Italy to reaffirm the strength of the Canada–Italy relationship. Discussions focused on expanding trade, investment, and research collaboration under the Italy–Canada Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation. The leaders also discussed energy security and free trade resilience in the face of global shocks.
In addition to his bilateral talks with Italian leaders, Carney held high-level meetings with over a dozen world leaders, emphasizing Canada’s commitment to deepening commercial ties and addressing global challenges. These included discussions with the Prime Ministers of Australia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Croatia, and the Presidents of Israel, Ireland, Paraguay, and Nigeria.
A significant part of the visit included a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Building on their earlier talks at the White House this month, Carney and Vance discussed North American cooperation on border security, the fight against fentanyl, and increased investments in defense and strategic sectors. They also addressed mounting trade pressures and the need for a modernized economic and security framework between the two allies.
In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Carney reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. He commended Zelenskyy’s leadership and emphasized that any durable resolution must involve Ukraine at the negotiating table. The two leaders also committed to ongoing coordination on military, financial, and humanitarian assistance.
Carney’s conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog focused on the situation in Gaza. He reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages by Hamas, and the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to civilians. He further affirmed Canada’s support for a two-state solution and stressed that Hamas must have no future role in the governance of Gaza.
The Prime Minister used the occasion of the Papal inauguration to position Canada as a reliable and innovative global partner ahead of the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. He highlighted Canada’s strength in natural resources, economic stability, and its readiness to lead in addressing shared global pressures.
Mark Carney’s Rome visit marked an assertive step by Canada’s new government to re-engage on the world stage, advance economic diplomacy, and strengthen alliances in a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
