Dear Friends of Italy, As I begin my tenure as Consul General of Italy in Boston with great pride and excitement, I wish to recognize the unwavering commitment and work of the Italian and Italian American community, organizations and associations in their efforts to promoting the values, culture, and traditions of Italian heritage in our consular jurisdiction.

October is the month in which we celebrate, with renewed pride, our common heritage and the immense contributions made by Italians and Italian-Americans to help build this great country. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Italian Heritage Month Committee for organizing this year's Kick-off Program and for promoting this month's celebrations.

I look forward to working with you and strengthening even further the ties between our countries, and to supporting the Italian and Italian-Americans in the fields of business, innovation and science, culture, education and the promotion of the Italian language. Together we can further enrich our common heritage for future generations!