SERGIO MATTARELLA

ROME — (AP) — Italy on Friday marked the second anniversary of a tragic milestone of the coronavirus pandemic: the day when a convoy of army trucks had to transport the dead out of hard-hit Bergamo because the city’s cemeteries and crematoria were full. Premier Mario Draghi opened a press conference Friday with the leaders of Spain, Portugal and Greece by recalling that it was Italy's official Day of Remembrance for COVID-19 victims. “We bow down in memory of the victims,” Mattarella said in his tribute. The anniversary of the convoy comes as Italy begins winding down its anti-virus restrictions. Italy, which has recorded more than 157,000 official COVID deaths, has fully vaccinated 89.7% of its over-12 population.

Italy is marking the second anniversary of a tragic milestone of the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy Presidential Elections Senator Matteo Renzi casts his vote in the Italian parliament in Rome, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, during the seventh round of voting for Italy's 13th president. (Remo Casilli/Pool Photo via AP) (Remo Casilli)ROME — (AP) — Prosecutors in Florence on Wednesday requested trial indictment for former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi for alleged illegal political party funding. A former Democratic Party leader who served as Italy's premier from 2014-16, Renzi is now a senator who leads a small centrist party in Parliament. He alleges that the magistrates have been targeting him for years as they investigated funding of a foundation backing Renzi. Also being investigated by Florence prosecutors are two former government ministers close to Renzi.

Prosecutors in Florence have requested trial indictment for former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi for alleged illegal political party funding.

Italy New President Newly re-elected Italian President Sergio Mattarella stands during his swearing-in ceremony in the Italian parliament in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Filippo Monteforte/Pool photo via AP) (Filippo Monteforte)ROME — (AP) — Italian President Sergio Mattarella received an astounding 55 rounds of applause from an otherwise divided parliament Thursday after he was sworn in to a second term in office. Mattarella, 80, agreed to remain in office after Italy’s fractious parties failed to agree on a successor, citing a sense of responsibility given the ongoing pandemic and efforts to relaunch the economy. The role is largely ceremonial, but can also require institutional knowledge and deft negotiations to navigate political crises. Mattarella is the second president to accept a second term, following Giorgio Napolitano, who agreed to stay on after a similar political stalemate, leaving office in 2015 when he was nearly 90.

Italy New President Newly re-elected Italian President Sergio Mattarella stands during his swearing-in ceremony in the Italian parliament in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Filippo Monteforte/Pool photo via AP) (Filippo Monteforte)ROME — (AP) — Italian President Sergio Mattarella received an astounding 55 rounds of applause from an otherwise divided parliament Thursday after he was sworn in to a second term in office. Mattarella, 80, agreed to remain in office after Italy’s fractious parties failed to agree on a successor, citing a sense of responsibility given the ongoing pandemic and efforts to relaunch the economy. The role is largely ceremonial, but can also require institutional knowledge and deft negotiations to navigate political crises. Mattarella is the second president to accept a second term, following Giorgio Napolitano, who agreed to stay on after a similar political stalemate in 2015 when he was nearly 90.

President Sergio Mattarella received an astounding 55 rounds of applause from an otherwise divided Italian parliament Thursday during a wide-ranging speech that underlined the need for national unity after he was sworn in to a second term in office.

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella had set his eyes on retirement but was re-elected to the post after Italian lawmakers failed to agree on another candidate.

Mattarella has been elected to a second seven-year term as the country’s head of state, ending days of political impasse as party leaders struggled to pick his successor. Applause broke out in Parliament, prompting the Chamber of Deputies president to interrupt his reading aloud of the ballots. Draghi had previously indicted he would be willing to move into the president's role, but some party leaders featured that would prompt an early election. Italy's presidency is a generally largely ceremonial role, that sees the head of state make official trips abroad or receives visiting foreign leaders to strengthen Italy’s international relations. On occasion, the president can send legislation back to Parliament to modify aspects deemed not in keeping with the post-war Constitution.

Italy Presidential Vote FILE - Italian President Sergio Mattarella stands with French President Emmanuel Macron at Quirinale Presidential Palace in Rome, Nov. 25, 2021. ROME (AP) — After days of stalemate, Italian party leaders on Saturday urged 80-year-old President Sergio Mattarella to change his mind and stay on for a second seven-year term amids concern protracted political squabbling would erode the nation's credibility. Rai state TV said Premier Mario Draghi, a non-partisan former chief of the European Central Bank who is leading a pandemic unity government, telephoned party leaders to encourage the lobbying. Draghi had previously indicted he would be willing to move into the president's role, but some party leaders featured that would prompt an early election. Until 2013, no president had served a second term.

Italy Presidential Vote FILE - Italian President Sergio Mattarella stands with French President Emmanuel Macron at Quirinale Presidential Palace in Rome, Nov. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool, File) (Andrew Medichini)ROME — (AP) — After days of stalemate, Italian party leaders on Saturday urged 80-year-old President Sergio Mattarella to change his mind and stay on for a second seven-year term amids concern protracted political squabbling would erode the nation's credibility. Rai state TV said Premier Mario Draghi, a non-partisan former chief of the European Central Bank who is leading a pandemic unity government, telephoned party leaders to encourage the lobbying. Draghi had previously indicted he would be willing to move into the president's role, but some party leaders featured that would prompt an early election. Until 2013, no president had served a second term.

The sixth round of voting ended inconclusively on Friday, sending political parties into yet more intense negotiations to come up with a viable candidate to replace President Sergio Mattarella, whose term expires next week. The president, who is 80, has repeatedly said he doesdn't want another seven-year stint as head of state. Until 2013, no president had served a second term. Napolitano resigned in 2015, when he was nearly 90, clearing the way for the election that made Mattarella head of state. In that round, Mattarella garnered 387 votes, 51 more than he received in Friday evening's vote, where momentum for a second mandate started gaining traction.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has been pulled away from his impending retirement and reelected to a second seven-year term as the country’s head of state, ending days of political impasse as party leaders struggled to pick his successor.

Italy Presidential Elections President of the Italian Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, left, and President of the Italian Lower Chamber Roberto Fico count ballots in the Italian parliament in Rome, during a voting session in the Italian parliament, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The first rounds of voting in Italy's Parliament for the country's next president yielded an avalanche of blank ballots, as lawmakers and special regional electors failed to deliver a winner amid a political stalemate. At the start of the fifth day of voting, right-wing League leader Matteo Salvini declared that the center-right bloc would vote for the Senate president, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati. A sixth round of balloting, held on Friday evening, also yielded no winner, with leaders from the center-right bloc indicating their electors were sitting out that round while behind-the-scenes negotiations continued. The president, however, helps to authoritatively mediate Italy’s frequent political squabbling in its coalition governments and can dissolve Parliament if it becomes hopelessly stalemated.

Italy Presidential Elections President of the Italian Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, left, and President of the Italian Lower Chamber Roberto Fico count ballots in the Italian parliament in Rome, during a voting session in the Italian parliament, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The first rounds of voting in Italy's Parliament for the country's next president yielded an avalanche of blank ballots, as lawmakers and special regional electors failed to deliver a winner amid a political stalemate. At the start of the fifth day of voting, right-wing League leader Matteo Salvini declared that the center-right bloc would vote for Senate president, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati. Neither of the two major blocs in Parliament – the center-right or center-left – has that majority on paper. Under the Constitution, the head of state represents national unity who helps to authoritatively mediate Italy’s frequent political squabbling in its coalition governments.

Insistence by Italy's center-right bloc that their candidate becomes the nation's president has backfired.

Italy Presidential Elections President of the Italian Senate Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, left, and President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico count ballots during a voting session in the Italian parliament, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. The first rounds of voting in Italy's Parliament for the country's next president yielded an avalanche of blank ballots, as lawmakers and special regional electors failed to deliver a winner amid a political stalemate. But the 80-year-old president has made clear he doesn’t want a second term. Thursday was the first day of voting that a president could be elected with simple majority, or 505 votes, rather than the absolute majority required in the first three rounds. Italy’s head of state is largely ceremonial, but the president is key in navigating Italy’s not-infrequent political crises.

Lawmakers and regional representatives have failed again to find consensus on a new Italian president.

Italy Presidential Elections Ballots are counted in the Italian parliament in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Alberto Pizzoli/Pool photo via AP) (Alberto Pizzoli)ROME — (AP) — The third round of voting by Italian lawmakers for a new Italian president ended inconclusively on Wednesday, sending political parties into yet more intense negotiations to come up with a viable candidate to replace President Sergio Mattarella, whose term expires next week. No party has yet put forward a serious candidate as they ran down the clock on voting rounds requiring an absolute majority. Beginning Thursday, a president can be elected with simple majority, or 505 votes, raising the pressure on leaders to reach a deal. Italy’s head of state is largely ceremonial, but the president is key in navigating Italy’s not-infrequent political crises.

The third round of voting for a new Italian president ended has again ended inconclusively, sending political parties into yet more intense negotiations to come up with a viable candidate to replace President Sergio Mattarella, whose term expires next week.

Italy Presidential Vote Senator Emma Bonino casts her ballot during the first round of votes in the Italian parliament, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy’s next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates. Political parties held internal meetings over the weekend, but were keeping the names of possible candidates close to their vests. During the first three rounds of voting, a two-thirds majority, or 672 votes, is necessary to win. Garnering the next amount of votes, with 16, was outgoing President Sergio Mattarella, 80, who has repeatedly said he did not want to run again.

A first round of voting to elect Italy's next president has failed as expected amid a political impasse.

Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has been undergoing a series of medical examinations in a Milan hospital.

Former premier Silvio Berlusconi has bowed out of Italy’s presidential election set for next week.

Italy is poised to elect a new president, a figure who is supposed to serve as the nation’s moral compass and foster unity by being above the political fray.

Italy Politics FILE - Former and present Italian Premiers Silvio Berlusconi, left, and Mario Draghi, right, are seen during a press conference at Chigi Palace,in Rome, on Oct. 8, 2008. Italy’s lower chamber of parliament on Tuesday set Jan. 24 as the start date to begin voting for a new Italian president, officially kicking off a campaign that is expected to see Premier Mario Draghi and ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi vie for the prestigious job. The victor, who is chosen by around 1,000 “big electors" among lawmakers and regional representatives, will replace President Sergio Mattarella, whose seven-year term ends Feb. 3. The voting is expected to last several rounds over several days. On Tuesday, Italian news reports said the 5 Star Movement was instead rallying behind a second Mattarella term.

Italy has set Jan. 24 as the start date to begin voting for a new Italian president.

French authorities have announced that children six and older will have to wear masks in indoor places open to the public as new cases of the highly contagious omicron variant surge past 200.000 for the fourth consecutive day.

The Italian presidency has limited powers and is largely ceremonial. But the president plays a key role in resolving political impasses, and having the internationally respected Draghi in the Quirinale Palace would send a signal of Italian stability and credibility for seven more years. Draghi, 74, didn’t respond directly Wednesday when asked repeatedly about his future at a year-end news conference. Draghi demurred when asked Wednesday if he thought Berlusconi was a viable candidate, saying it's not for him to evaluate possible heads of state. The Italian president had called on Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank, to lead a broad-based government in February after a political crisis that saw the collapse of Giuseppe Conte’s government.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi says his government has accomplished most of what it set out do in fighting the pandemic and restoring economic growth.

While many European theaters remain closed due to the pandemic, the famed Teatro alla Scala has opened its new season with the gala premiere of Verdi’s “Macbeth” to a fully seated house.

Italy La Scala La Scala opera house general manager Dominique Meyer poses for photographers prior to the start of a news conference to present Giuseppe Verdi's 'Macbeth', directed by Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly, who will open the opera season at the La Scala opera house next, Dec.7, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (Luca Bruno)MILAN — (AP) — While many European theaters remain closed due to the pandemic, the famed Teatro alla Scala on Tuesday opens its new season Tuesday with the gala premiere of Verdi’s “Macbeth” to a fully seated house. La Scala resumed performances at full capacity in September, but there remain considerations for the pandemic: Attendees must be vaccinated or recently recovered to attend performances in Italy under new government regulations launched this week for the holiday season. President Sergio Mattarella is expected to attend what has long been heralded as the cultural event of the European calendar. La Scala’s music director, Riccardo Chailly, conducts “Macbeth” with a modern staging by Davide Livermore in the pair’s fourth consecutive collaboration for La Scala’s highly touted Dec. 7 season premiere marking the holiday for Milan’s patron Saint Ambrose.

Masked Milanese turned out in all their finery for La Scala’s gala season opener of Verdi’s “Macbeth” in a fully seated theater.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi says a bilateral treaty signed with French President Emmanuel Macron to deepen bilateral cooperation will in turn strengthen the European Union.

Leaders of the world’s biggest economies have endorsed a global minimum tax on corporations as part of an agreement on new international tax rules.

President Joe Biden says Pope Francis told him he's a “good Catholic” and should keep taking Communion when the world's two most prominent Roman Catholics met at the Vatican on Friday.

Virus Outbreak Italy FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 file photo, port workers gather during a protest in Trieste, Italy. Italy’s president on Monday strongly criticized the violent protests that have erupted Italy’s new anti-coronavirus workplace health pass requirement, saying they appeared aimed at jeopardizing Italy’s economic recovery just as it was getting going. The protesters, who have included right-wing agitators in previous episodes, oppose the so-called Green Pass requirement. (Duccio Pugliese/LaPresse via AP, File) (Duccio Pugliese)ROME — (AP) — Italy’s president on Monday strongly criticized the violence that has erupted amid protests over the country's new coronavirus workplace health pass requirement, saying it appeared aimed at jeopardizing Italy’s economic recovery. The protesters, who have included right-wing agitators in previous episodes, oppose Italy's Green Pass requirement.

An Israeli-French-American Holocaust survivor and historian and a U.S. scientist specializing in gut bacteria were among the recipients this year’s Balzan Prizes, recognizing scholarly and scientific achievements.

Gino Strada, an Italian emergency room surgeon who helped establish a humanitarian group to operate on civilians wounded in war, has died.

Europe's soccer champions have returned home to the ecstatic cheers of Italians.

Italian Rai state TV says Raffaella Carra', for decades one of Italy's most popular entertainers, has died at 78.

Milva, one of Italy's most popular singers in the ‘60s and ’70s who also had many fans abroad, has died at her home in Milan.

Pope Francis and Italy's president have marked the nation's first annual day to honor doctors, nurses and other health care workers, exactly a year after the nation's first known native case of COVID-19 emerged. (Paolo Giandotti/Italian Presidency via AP)ROME – Pope Francis and Italy’s president on Saturday marked a newly established annual day to honor doctors, nurses and other health care workers, exactly one year after the nation’s first known native case of COVID-19 emerged. Expressing gratitude to doctors, nurses and other health care workers, Francis likened their dedication to “a vaccine against individualism and selfishness.'' AdPresident Sergio Mattarella marked the first National Day of Health Care Personnel by mourning the many medical workers who contracted COVID-19 and died. More COVID-19 anniversary commemorations are scheduled for Sunday in Italy, especially in the hard-hit north, where the outbreak first pummeled the nation.

Segre's efforts to encourage other older adults to receive the anti-COVID-19 vaccine as she did have triggered a wave of anti-Semitic comments and other invective on social media. (Yara Nardi/pool photo via AP, file)ROME – An Italian Holocaust survivor’s attempt to encourage other older adults to receive the anti-COVID-19 vaccine has triggered a wave of anti-Semitic comments and other invective on social media. Liliana Segre, 90, received the first of the two-shot vaccine series in Milan on Thursday. She urged people who reach her age “to not be afraid and to take the vaccine.”“I’m not afraid of the vaccine, I’m afraid of the illness," Segre remarked. Segre was one of the few Italian children to survive deportation to a Nazi death camp.

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi attends a debate at the Senate, in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, before submitting his government to a vote of confidence. A confidence vote Thursday in the lower Chamber of Deputies is also expected to give Draghi broad backing, since he has secured support from across Italy's political spectrum. Ad“Today, unity isn’t an option, it’s an obligation,“ Draghi said to applause as he outlined his government program. Italy has one of the EU’s worst records on making use of designated EU funds, a trend Draghi seems intent on ending. Draghi quoted Pope Francis in calling for a new approach to preserving the environment and Italy’s cultural and natural treasures.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella had tasked the former European Central Bank president with trying to form a government up to managing the the health, economic and social crises of the coronavirus pandemic. AdDraghi’s most-quoted words so far have been those uttered in 2012 when the euro-zone risked collapsing in a crisis of confidence and he vowed the European Central Bank would do “whatever it takes” to rescue the euro. The current head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, tweeted her congratulations. Italy's health minister through the pandemic, Roberto Speranza, kept his post, the sole minister from a small left-wing party. ___This story has been corrected to show that employees applauded for Conte, not Draghi.

The formation of a broad-based government of national unity was widely expected after most political parties across the spectrum signaled their support for Draghi. Draghi also has the support of former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italia and former Premier Matteo Renzi's Italy Alive Party. The far-right Brothers of Italy party said it will remain in opposition, after Salvini and Berlusconi broke their right-wing alliance to back Draghi. Draghi, 73, replaces Giuseppe Conte, who resigned after a small party yanked support over the handling of the pandemic. For his 23-member Cabinet, Draghi also transformed the environment ministry into a more developmentally oriented post for ecological transition, tapping Roberto Cingolani, an expert in nanotechnology, to run it.

Outgoing Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte waves as he leaves after meeting journalists outside Chigi palace Premier's office in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Draghi must rely on political support to pass measures aimed at helping Italy emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and revive its economy, already stagnant before being pummeled by lockdown measures. “I hope for a political government that is solid and has sufficient cohesion to be able to make political choices, because the urgencies of the country need political choices, they can’t be entrusted to technocrats,” Conte said. Conte also pitched to two other parties from his unraveled coalition, the center-left Democrats and the leftist Free and Equal Party. His call for a political alliance appeared to indicate Conte intended to stay in politics, even while out of office.

FILE - In this Thursday, July 4, 2013 file photo, President of European Central Bank Mario Draghi smiles during a news conference in Frankfurt, Germany. Because it is Mario Draghi,’’ the deputy manager of the leading Milan Daily Corriere della Sera, Daniele Manca, said on Wednesday. He took a pragmatic approach during the financial crisis. Draghi joined the ECB as its third chief in 2011, just as Italy was engulfed in a debt crisis. The largely ceremonial role proves key in helping manage Italy’s all-too-frequent political crises, which require deft negotiations and unassailable knowledge of Italy’s constitution and institutions.

Former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi speaks to the media after accepting a mandate to form Italy's new government from Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Rome's Quirinale Presidential Palace, Wednesday Feb. 3, 2021. During his tenure at the European Central Bank, Draghi became known as “Super Mario" for using new and sometimes unorthodox policy tools to solve the vexing debt crisis and other problems. “As such, it will not vote in favor of a technical government headed by Mario Draghi,” Crimi said in a statement. “If they (the 5-Stars and the League) are going to somehow support Draghi then the government I think can be born," he said in an interview. “Now everyone of good will must welcome President Mattarella's appeal to support the government of Mario Draghi," he said Wednesday.

Italian Premier Conte was meeting Tuesday, Jan. 26. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file)ROME – Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte resigned Tuesday after a key coalition ally pulled his party’s support over Conte’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, setting the stage for consultations this week to determine if he can form a third government. Conte’s coalition government was thrown into turmoil earlier this month when a junior party headed by ex-Premier Matteo Renzi yanked its support. But Conte would need Renzi's support to form a new governing coalition or the backing of independents and the center-right Forza Italia party. Conte's first government starting in 2018 was a 5-Star alliance with the right-wing League party led by Matteo Salvini that lasted 15 months.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte attends the debate at the Senate prior to a confidence vote, in Rome, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. With a reduced majority, Conte will have to cobble together support from outside the current coalition to pass legislation, including aid to help Italy’s pandemic-battered economy. Conte’s government on Tuesday survived what amounted to a confidence vote with a 156-to-140 win, with 16 abstentions. “The numbers speak clearly,” said Giorgia Melloni, head of the small but rising Brothers of Italy party. In the lower Chamber of Deputies, where the 16-month-old government holds a more comfortable margin, Conte won a first confidence vote on Monday.

The Italian cabinet was in crisis on January 13, 2021 following the resignations of ministers Teresa Bellanova and Elena Bonetti, members of former premier Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva party. Renzi orchestrated the resignations of two ministers from his tiny but key Italia Viva party. “Italia Viva did not start the crisis. CONTE’S NEXT MOVEWith the resignation of the Italia Viva ministers, Conte is working to shore up support in parliament among independent lawmakers. And it is still possible that Italia Viva will restore its backing.

(AP Photo/File)ROME – Paolo Rossi, who led Italy to the 1982 World Cup title and later worked as a soccer commentator in his home country, has died. State-run RAI television, where Rossi worked as a sportscaster, said he had been diagnosed with an incurable illness. Rossi had a remarkable career comeback, leading Italy to the World Cup title after returning from a suspension following a betting scandal in 1980. “Very sad news: Paolo Rossi left us,” Varriale wrote. ___This story has been corrected to show that Rossi won the Ballon d'Or award in 1982, not the FIFA player of the year.

ROME – Lidia Brisca Menapace, a Resistance member during World War II who later was an advocate of pacifism and women’s rights and was elected to the Italian Senate on a Communist party ticket, has died. Italian state radio said she had been hospitalized for several days with COVID-19 in Bolzano, the Alpine city where she had lived in latter decades. As young woman, Lidia Brisca pedaled a bicycle to deliver medicine and messages to Resistance fighters, known as Partisans, based in the countryside of the northern Piedmont region of her birth. She was the first woman to be elected to the provincial legislature of Bolzano, another Alpine province. She remained proud of the Resistance spirit, remarking that she was still a Partisan, because “being so is a choice of life."

The state reported 103 infections that day, the largest single day increase in cases. France’s government has shut down all nonessential businesses and ordered people to stay indoors for the next month to slow accelerating virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths. The Geneva canton, or region, said the University Hospitals of Geneva on Sunday counted 474 people hospitalized with coronavirus infections, including 56 in intensive care. Iran has reported more than 620,000 confirmed virus cases in all. Montenegro recently has seen a surge in virus cases.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is flanked by Italian President Sergio Mattarella after visiting the Duomo gothic cathedral, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)MILAN – An Italian coronavirus survivor from Bergamo warmly thanked Germany’s visiting president on Thursday for lifesaving treatment he received in the eastern Germany city of Leipzig. Frank-Walter Steinmeier met medical personnel who treated coronavirus patients during his visit to Milan, the capital of hard-hit Lombardy. ‘’If I hadn’t gone to Germany, I would have died,’’ Perani told Steinmeier, as Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella looked on. Perani said though they didn’t have a common language, the medical personnel in Germany ‘’spoke with their eyes.

FILE -- May 31, 1988 file photo of Gianni Agnelli, right, chairman of Italy's auto giant FIAT, and chief operating officer Cesare Romiti, as they leave the Banca d'Italia (Bankitalia)in Rome. Romiti has died Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in his house in Milan at the age of 97, according to Italian media. In 1975, during the global oil crisis that rocked the automobile industry, Romiti joined Fiat, going on to become CEO and eventually chairman. Romiti helped Fiat launch new car models and close the historic Lingotto factory in Turin to put the company solidly on the path to profits. Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann, an Agnelli family member highlighted the significant role Romiti had played in the automaker's past.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella, center, speaks in front of Bergamo's cemetery, Sunday, June 28, 2020. Italy bid farewell to its coronavirus dead on Sunday with a haunting Requiem concert performed at the entrance to the cemetery of Bergamo, the hardest-hit province in the onetime epicenter of the outbreak in Europe. The orchestra performed the unfinished Requiem funeral Mass of Bergamo native Gaetano Donizetti, one of Italys most important 19th century composers. Images in mid-March of an army convoy hauling caskets away because Bergamos cemetery and crematoriums were full came to epitomize the horrific toll of the virus in Italys north. Many of the more than 6,000 Bergamo dead never had a funeral celebrated in their honor, depriving their families of the chance to say goodbye.