I certainly express the feelings of all Italians, and am particularly delighted, when I present Your Holiness with the warm and respectful homage of the Italian government.
This has been a terrible story, an anxious time for all the country -- all fathers, mothers of Italian daughters -- but it has concluded in a totally positive way. The two girls are well, and tonight will be able to embrace their loved ones.
Our determination is the same as those Italians in uniform who are honoring the coalition engaged in supporting Iraq on its road to democracy,
the government will do everything in its power to achieve as soon as possible the release of four Italian citizens held in Iraq.
If there ever was a day when controversy should be silenced and when all Italian citizens should show solidarity with those who have taken on the lofty task of defending the values of our democracy, then this is the day.