About Us
- “From Rome to Washington, Christ is Lord” -
Amici Vaticani is a fellowship of Catholics united by a simple conviction: that the faith which flowed from Rome to the New World still has the power to shape America’s soul. Founded to honor the historic and ongoing contributions of American Catholics to the universal Church, we work to renew that living bond through culture, education, and witness. Guided by our motto, “From Rome to Washington, Christ is Lord,” we seek to remind both Church and nation that faith and civilization are strongest when they walk together.
Our Story
The story of Amici Vaticani begins with a moment of inspiration. Our Executive Director, Isaac Smith, attended the Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, in Rome. Witnessing the unity of the faithful gathered from every corner of the world, he felt deeply moved by the realization that the American Church, young, dynamic, and growing, had FINALLY come of age within the universal body of Christ.
That experience planted the seed for what would become Amici Vaticani: A cultural association devoted to honoring the contributions of American Catholics and strengthening the spiritual bridge between Rome and Washington. Moved by gratitude and devotion, Mr. Smith resolved to commission a Papal Tiara, a modern crown worthy of the Holy Father and a gift symbolizing the love and loyalty of American Catholics to the See of Peter.
This act is not merely ceremonial. It represents something larger: The awakening of a Catholic spirit in the United States. Our country, once defined by its Protestant heritage, is now witnessing a boon of conversions. Men and women rediscovering the depth, beauty, and authority of the Catholic faith. Mr. Smith himself counts among this new generation of converts, drawn by the Church’s universality and her unbroken continuity with the Apostles.
Through devotion to the Eucharist, fidelity to the Papacy, and love for the Blessed Mother, we at Amici Vaticani believe that America can take its rightful place among the great Catholic countries of the world. Our mission is to help make that vision real by promoting Catholic culture, deepening understanding between Rome and America, and offering tangible works of faith that unite beauty, tradition, and patriotism under the banner of Christ.