On Sunday, Georgia Meloni assumed her duties as prime minister in Italy, starting the most right-wing government since World War II.
Mario Draghi, who headed the Italian government in February 2021, met the leader of the far-right "Fratelli d'Italia" (Brothers of Italy) party at the Chigi Palace - the seat of government - for more than an hour.
After the meeting, Draghi symbolically handed the new Prime Minister the bell that the Prime Minister uses to adjust discussions during council meetings.
On Saturday, the European Union expressed its readiness to "cooperate" with the Meloni government, which thanked European leaders, saying it was "ready and excited to work" with them.
The Italian newspaper, La Stampa, also titled "Melone.. European debut," while Corriere della Sera wrote, "Melone.. to work with pride."
"We pray for unity and peace in Italy," Pope Francesco said in Saint Peter's Square on Sunday, as the new government began.
The first female prime minister was sworn in on Saturday, pledging to be loyal to the Italian Republic and to work "exclusively for the interests of the nation".
Also, 24 ministers were sworn in in Meloni's government, 5 of whom are technocrats who do not represent any party.
Notable allies of Meloni include former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and right-wing League leader Maito Salvini, who are known to admire Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meloni, 45, heads the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, and won the elections last month as part of an alliance of conservative parties that includes Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and Matteo Salvini's League.