‘Welcome to Rome, My friend’: Giorgia Meloni greets PM Modi as Colosseum photo wins internet

Posted on by Alex Obi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday, May 19, for the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour, where he was warmly welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Soon after his arrival, Meloni shared a picture with PM Modi on X, captioning it, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!” along with the flags of India and Italy.

PM Modi was received at the airport by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.

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During his visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold detailed talks with Meloni and also meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella to further strengthen strategic and economic cooperation between India and Italy.
One of the highlights of the visit was a widely shared photograph of PM Modi and Meloni standing before the iconic Colosseum, beautifully illuminated against Rome’s night skyline. The image quickly gained traction online, crossing two million views along with thousands of likes and comments celebrating the friendship between the two world leaders.

PM Modi later shared details of the interaction on X, saying that after landing in Rome, he had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner, followed by a visit to the Colosseum. “We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship,” he wrote on X.

The Rome visit marks the concluding stop of PM Modi’s five-nation tour, which included visits to Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

In Italy, apart from bilateral discussions with Meloni and a meeting with President Mattarella, the Prime Minister is also expected to participate in several diplomatic engagements before departing for India on Wednesday.

PM Modi had previously visited Italy in June 2024 to attend the G7 Summit.

The friendship between PM Modi and Giorgia Meloni has frequently captured social media attention over the past few years. During the 2024 G7 Summit, Meloni had shared a selfie and a short video with the Prime Minister, referring to them as the ‘Melodi”’ a term coined by internet users by combining the names “Meloni” and “Modi.” “Hi friends, from #Melodi,” she wrote on X.

PM Modi had responded to her post at the time by saying, “Long live India-Italy friendship!”

Even earlier, during the COP28 summit in Dubai in 2023, a selfie shared by Meloni with PM Modi had become popular on social media. Sharing the picture on X, she said, “Good friends at COP28. #Melodi.”

Ahead of his meetings in Rome, PM Modi stated that the visit would focus on enhancing India-Italy cooperation.

“This visit will focus on how to strengthen cooperation between India and Italy, with particular attention to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 will also be reviewed. I will also visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), reinforcing India’s commitment to multilateralism and global food security,” he wrote upon his arrival in Italy.

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