On Friday 15 December, the traditional end-of-year greetings exchange ceremony between the Diplomatic Corps and the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, was held at the Quirinale Palace. The ceremony, in the Salone dei Corazzieri, was attended by Minister Antonio Tajani, the Deputy Minister and the Under Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Also present the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Italian Republic Stefano Ronca.

In his address to the Ambassadors, President Mattarella elaborated on the current international situation.

During the reception for Greetings to the Diplomatic Corps at the Quirinale, Ambassador Ronca was able to bring the President of the Republic the greetings of H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master and the appreciation of Him and the High Offices for the warm welcome he gave them during the Official Visit to the Quirinale on 23 November.

In his speech, the President insisted on the need to strengthen international bodies and encourage multilateralism. “The weakening of multilateralism could not
could not have come at a worse time” and “the world war in pieces” – evoked by Pope Francis – “will lead to a world in pieces”.

The strength and clarity of the concepts expressed in the entire speech greatly impressed the Ambassadors present, from whom I gathered comments of great appreciation.
I also take this opportunity to transmit the speeches of President Mattarella and Prime Minister Meloni at the Conference of Italian Ambassadors Worldwide held at the Farnesina on 18 and 19 December.