The endless legacy of Ancient Rome and its influence on the contemporary world was the theme of a dialogue hosted yesterday in Washington by the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia. The conversation featured Aldo Cazzullo, Deputy Editor of Corriere della Sera and one of Italy’s most esteemed and influential journalists and writers, and Jonathan Karl, Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News, a prominent figure in American journalism and the recipient of the 2024 Urbino Award. The discussion was inspired by The Neverending Empire: The Infinite Impact of Ancient Rome, the American edition of Aldo Cazzullo’s bestselling book published in Italy in 2023.
During the event, held at Villa Firenze, Ambassador Zappia remarked:
“The signs of Ancient Rome’s influence in this country are numerous and ever-present, even in daily life. Just think of the monuments in the American capital—I’ll simply remind you that the U.S. Senate is housed in the Capitol. They remind us of the enduring power of a legacy that, centuries later, continues to have a profound impact on many aspects of our political, cultural, and social life. In his book, Aldo Cazzullo clearly highlights how this truly is an empire without end.”
Referring to the election of Pope Leo XIV, Aldo Cazzullo noted:
“Holding this event on such a meaningful day—the election of the first North American Pope—confirms the centuries-old connection between the history of Rome and that of the United States of America, which inherited from the Roman Empire a range of ideas, strategies, symbols, and key terms, including those of religion, derived from Latin. If Christianity is the religion of the West today, it is because the Roman Empire became Christian.”
The event was attended by prominent members of the U.S. administration, a select group of Italian and American journalists, and leading figures from the American cultural scene. During the conversation, it was emphasized how the ideals and imagery of Ancient Rome continue to live on in many forms in the United States—from architecture to politics, as well as in popular culture, modern cinema, and literature. These elements testify to the richness and deep historical roots of the ties between Italy and the United States.
