Pelosi Remarks at Photo Opportunity with President Sergio Mattarella of Italy

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted President Sergio Mattarella of Italy at the United States Capitol and held a photo opportunity at the top of their meeting. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Buongiorno. Mr. President, welcome to the Capitol.

It is a sad day for us in the Capitol because we lost a beloved Member of Congress, Congressman Elijah Cummings – Chairman Cummings from Maryland.

But, he would not want that to diminish the joy that we have here in the Capitol to welcome the President of Italy to the Capitol of the United States.

It is a special joy for me because I have had the honor of visiting President Mattarella at the Quirinale with my family. And, again, we are very very excited, personally as well as officially, to welcome the President to the Capitol.

My grandchildren display, with great pride, their photos with the President.

So, here we are, officially, to say thank you to Italy for being such a good friend to the United States. This bond is a very – the Italy-U.S. bond is very special to both of our countries.

Italy has been host to so many of our men and women in uniform and we are very grateful to the President and to Italy for that. It is – I just recently, in the summer, visited Vincenza, our men and women in uniform in Vincenza. Again, another occasion when we could say thank you for hosting us.

Italy is our very best and strongest friend in NATO and so we look forward to continuing, strengthening that relationship, as well as increasing economic ties and strengthening the economies of both of our countries.

And, this is all in keeping with strengthening transatlantic ties in general.

Viva Italia. God bless America. Welcome, Mr. President.

***

Speaker Pelosi. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for your very, very welcomed remarks here today.

I don't know if you have any idea what a joy it is for me, as the first Italian-American Speaker of the House, to welcome the President of Italy to the Capitol of the United States. And, when he leaves here, he is going to San Francisco, California, a very Italian-American city.

Welcome, Mr. President.

Grazie!