Rome endures in part because of the experiences people have and the relationships they develop while living there, as is the case for me and my family. Like a lot of American college students, I prioritized studying abroad. When it came to selecting a city there was only one choice: Rome. The reason was simple: family. Though I lack even a drop of Italian blood, several members of my Irish Catholic Chicago family spent extended time in Rome. My grandfather, journalist and later professor Dr. Edmund J. Rooney, Jr. served in the U.S. Army during World War II and wrote for Stars and Stripes while based in Rome.  My dad, the late journalist John Flynn Rooney, studied there when he was in college.  I grew up not only hearing his tales of the Eternal City but also frequently joining him for gatherings with his friends from his time there. 

When I left to study in Rome, I hoped to form a similar group of lifelong friends and fortunately succeeded in doing so. A lot of people who study abroad form tight knit friend groups, but what I think makes my situation unique is the nature of the relationships I built there. My “Rome friends” are the people I can always engage with on controversial and nuanced subjects such as faith, religion, politics, art, and history. We have formed deep bonds that keep me in touch with them despite having only spent one semester studying with them years ago.

I have questioned why my dad and I were able build such strong relationships in Rome, and I believe it has to do with the enduring character of Rome itself. It is a city with the some of the world’s greatest art, architecture, churches, food, and culture.  It is the center of the Catholic Church and one of the most important centers of commerce and politics in modern Europe. Its history is the history of the West itself and endlessly fascinating.  

Perhaps most importantly though, Italian and Roman culture emphasize time spent with friends and family each day. Morning and afternoon coffees and evening meals are not something to speed through in Rome; they are to be enjoyed and relished. Collectively, these characteristics provoke conversations about culture, faith, politics and how an individual approaches the world. These types of conversations cause people to think critically about who they are, where they come from, and what they believe. The vulnerability required to immerse oneself in a new culture and city leads to tremendous personal growth and the creation of strong bonds between people. My time spent with people exploring Rome’s labyrinth of churches, streets, restaurants, museums, churches, and cafes and praying, learning about art, history and the Italian language, and of course eating, and drinking cappuccinos, espressos, and wine, allowed my friends and I to embrace challenges, differences, and build authentic and lasting relationships.

The center of this relationship building was the Eternal City itself and its ability to change the visitors who are willing to engage it authentically. Rome endures not only because of the Colosseum and the Vatican, but also for the human relationships and experiences that are forged there. 

Ned Rooney is a Chicago native and recent graduate of the Notre Dame Law School.