Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s weekend pilgrimage to Rome transcends spiritual devotion, intertwining his Catholic faith with high-stakes diplomacy as he prepares to host next month’s G7 summit, according to Politico.
The former Bank of England governor, who once topped The Tablet’s list of Britain’s most influential Catholics, will attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Sunday Mass while courting European leaders on trade and climate policy.
Carney’s 2021 book Value(s), inspired by Pope Francis’ critique of capitalism’s “self-interested grappa,” frames his belief that markets must serve humanity, not vice versa. The pontiff’s 2014 Vatican seminar, where he urged leaders to “turn grappa back into wine,” left a profound mark.
In Rome, Carney will seek common ground with the new pontiff, whose Amazon conservation efforts align with Canada’s carbon neutrality goals. While both Carney and Pope Leo XIV prioritise climate justice, the Canadian prime minister’s progressive stance on abortion clashes with Vatican doctrine.
Beyond St. Peter’s Square, Carney’s itinerary includes talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, key players in shaping the G7 agenda.
