On All Saints Day, Italian Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Maurizio Greganti, Defense Attachè, General Stefano Cont, Minister Catherine Flumiani, and Embassy First Counselor Domenico Bellantone, and members of the military corps were among the congregation at the Mass celebrated by Fr. Ezio Marchetto at Holy Rosary Church in “Memoria dei Caduti in Guerra,” Mass to Commemorate the Fallen in War.
In his homily, Fr. Marchetto, reminded the parishioners that in celebrating All Saints Day, it was important to celebrate and remember the sacrifices of the many military saints such as St. Francis and St. Ignatius of Loyola.
At the end of the mass, DCM Greganti extended greetings on behalf of Amb Armando Varricchio. In his remarks, Greganti notes that given the pandemic that has hit hard in particular Italy and the United States, we should not let our guard down to this invisible and insidious enemy, and that the increasing number of Covid cases should not discourage us because we will win this challenge.
He reminded the congregation that a year ago on the same occasion, Italian President Sergio Mattarella had just made a successful visited Washington, a very important occasion that reinforced the strong bonds between the United States and Italy.
This year, the Giornata Nazionale delle Forze Armate, observed in Italy on November 4, leads us to the reflect on the dedication, courage, and personal sacrifices of all Italians beginning with the military that continued to serve and support the Italian people, and to bring a spark of hope during some dark moments caused by the pandemic, noted Greganti. The pandemic in Italy showed that we are Fratelli d’Italia and showed the values of the Italian people and the shared values of democracy and liberty between the United States and Italy.
