Amid U.S. flags on every corner and banners reading "Welcome to Gesso" and "You will always have home here" displayed on balconies across the square in front of the church, First Lady Jill Biden visited the hilltop village of Gesso (Messina), where her great-grandparents were born. During the visit, Jill Biden thanked everyone for their kind welcome. "It's beautiful, it's incredible, thank you for such a warm welcome, I never imagined it", she said from the podium, highlighting her strong connection to her family's Italian heritage. In her speech, she also celebrated the values her great-grandparents brought to America, such as loyalty, hard work, and generosity. "They are still alive here. Today, I feel the warmth of home", she added emotionally. During the speech, the first lady mentioned a local culinary tradition, 'Messina-style chops', and revealed that she had served them with gnocchi at the White House. Jill Biden had previously said upon her arrival in Sigonella: "I left the best for last", passionately reflecting on her journey to Italy, which she described as "the honor of my life".