Global Events of 2025: Trump, Pope's Funeral, and Economic Shifts

The year 2025 was transformative, leaving behind images etched in collective memory. From geopolitics to finance, conflicts to public squares, and sports, certain events had a profound impact, transcending individual figures to symbolize a new and unstable historical phase.

A World Mourns: The Funeral of Pope Francis

Pope Francis's funeral, held in an overflowing St. Peter's Square, was a global event. Heads of state and government from every continent paid tribute to a Pontiff who defined an era. The unexpected meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, captured in conversation on the sidelines, became an iconic image, encapsulating the transition between a fading world and a new, tension-filled one.

Trump's Reshaping of Global Order

The first year of Trump's new presidency reshaped global balances. Tariffs returned to the forefront of American economic policy, particularly affecting Europe and reopening trade war scenarios. Domestically, a crackdown on migrants marked a stark departure from previous years. Internationally, tensions with the European Union and a standoff with Venezuela contributed to significant diplomatic instability in 2025.

Middle East: A Fragile Peace in Gaza

After months of negotiations, 2025 saw the achievement of a fragile but historic peace in Gaza. The return of the Flotilla phenomenon, symbolizing international mobilization for the Palestinian cause, also captured the collective imagination. In Italy, large demonstrations in major cities brought the Middle Eastern question back to the center of public debate, with broad participation involving youth, associations, and the cultural world.

Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska: A Shift in Diplomacy

The summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was one of the year's most delicate diplomatic events. The choice of a remote and symbolic location underscored the desire to reopen direct dialogue on the war in Ukraine. While not reaching an immediate solution, the meeting marked a change of pace: the conflict entered a negotiation phase, reducing military intensity and opening avenues for long-term stabilization. It was the first time since 2015 that Putin had visited the United States.

Europe on Edge: German Elections Signal Instability

The German elections of 2025 were a wake-up call for Europe. The rise of neo-Nazi formations, coupled with the decline of the continent's leading economy, challenged Germany's traditional role as a pillar of stability. The vote reflected a polarized society and an economic model under pressure, with immediate effects on markets and the European Union's strategic choices.

Economic Impact

The elections had a ripple effect across European markets, prompting a reassessment of economic strategies and risk management.

Italian Banking: A Year of Major Restructuring

2025 was the year of significant Italian banking restructuring, with a series of operations profoundly reshaping the credit system. UniCredit was central, leading an expansion strategy culminating in the Banco BPM operation, which reignited debate on sector consolidation. Intesa Sanpaolo, while maintaining a more cautious profile, strengthened its domestic and international position, closely observing competitors' moves.

Here's a look at key Italian banks and their activities in 2025:

Key Players in the Italian Financial Sector

The restructuring was not limited to traditional banking. The Generali situation, tensions among major shareholders, and the role of politics demonstrated how credit remains a strategic node of Italian economic power. A year of takeovers, alliances, and clashes brought finance back to the center of public and institutional debate. Notably, the government shifted from referee to player, directly intervening in major financial affairs, altering market rules.

Government's Role in Finance

The Italian government's active involvement in the financial sector marked a significant change in market dynamics.

Wall Street's New Titan: Nvidia's Record-Breaking Year

On Wall Street, 2025 will be remembered as the year Nvidia became the most capitalized company ever, reaching $5 trillion, a value unmatched by any other company. This symbolic milestone certified artificial intelligence's dominance as the engine of the new global economy. The record was not only financial but cultural, marking the definitive transition to an era where technology and markets are increasingly interconnected.

Economic Shift: Italy Surpasses France in Spread

While France underwent a deep political-financial crisis, Italy experienced a historic moment: surpassing France in spread. During the autumn, the differential between the yield of Italian ten-year government bonds and German bonds was lower than that between French and German bonds. This unthinkable event changed the international perception of country risk and strengthened Italy's position in European bond markets. The good health of Italian financial parameters was confirmed at the end of the year with the first promotion of Italian sovereign debt by Moody's rating agency after 23 years.

This table illustrates the shift in bond yield spreads between Italy and France compared to Germany, highlighting Italy's improved financial standing.

Italy's Golden Year in Sports

2025 was a golden year for Italian sports. Italy's world championship victories in both men's and women's volleyball and the third consecutive Davis Cup victory in tennis offered a rare moment of national unity and pride. These successes reflected a country capable of excelling when planning, talent, and vision converge. However, football, remains the most popular sport in Italy, it struggles more and more internationally, risking once again not qualifying for the World Cup.

Volleyball Triumphs

Both the men's and women's volleyball teams secured world championship titles, marking a historic achievement for Italian sports.

A table summarizing Italy's sporting achievements in 2025.

Challenges in Football

Despite the successes in other sports, Italian football faced challenges in international competitions.

Summary of Key Events in 2025

Here's a table summarizing the key events that shaped 2025:

Italian Financial Sector: Key Figures

Here are some key financial figures highlighting Italy's economic performance in 2025:

In conclusion, 2025 was a year marked by significant political, economic, and social shifts, leaving a lasting impact on the global landscape.