The Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, travelled to Montréal from 30 to 31 July to take part in the initiatives organized on the occasion of the second and final Canadian port call of the Amerigo Vespucci, as part of the World Tour – North America Campaign 2026. The Tour is an initiative of the Italian Ministry of Defence and the Italian Navy, produced by Difesa Servizi S.p.A., in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture, the Minister for Sport and Youth, and the Minister for Disabilities.
During the mission, Ambassador Cattaneo, accompanied by the Commander in Chief of the Italian Fleet, Admiral Aurelio De Carolis, the Commanding Officer of the Amerigo Vespucci, Captain Nicasio Falica, and the Consul General of Italy in Montréal, Enrico Pavone, was received by the President of the Montréal City Council, Chantal Rossi, for a meeting focused on opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the economic, scientific, cultural and social fields. The delegation subsequently attended a working breakfast on board the Training Ship with Italian-Canadian Members of Parliament.
The mission also featured a strong scientific component, including a visit to Polytechnique Montréal’s POINT facility and the MIST (Multi-robot Intelligent Systems Technology) laboratory, led by its Director, Francis Brown Mastropaolo. It also included the scientific conference “De l’Amerigo Vespucci à la navigation du futur: systèmes autonomes, IA et matériaux avancés”, organized by the Embassy in collaboration with Réseau Québec Maritime and Polytechnique Montréal. Dedicated to the future of maritime navigation, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, advanced materials and prospects for bilateral scientific and technological cooperation in the maritime sector, the conference brought together Italian and Canadian experts and researchers. It was followed by a networking event on board the Amerigo Vespucci, attended by institutional representatives and members of Canada’s academic, social and cultural communities.
In his remarks, Ambassador Cattaneo emphasized that the Amerigo Vespucci, a symbol of Italy’s centuries-old maritime tradition, is an extraordinary instrument of naval diplomacy and a powerful vehicle for promoting the deep bonds of friendship and cooperation between Italy and Canada. The Ambassador also expressed his gratitude to the Commander in Chief of the Italian Fleet, the Commanding Officer of the Amerigo Vespucci, the ship’s crew and the entire Italian Navy, whose discipline, courage, teamwork, sense of duty, spirit of sacrifice and service to the State—values embodied by the Training Ship itself—contribute every day to strengthening Italy’s prestige and international standing.
