A wave of emotion and gratitude characterized the celebration of the state funeral of the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome. To welcome the coffin, wrapped in the flag of the European Union, the honor guard according to the protocol provided for by the state funeral, but above all the same atmosphere of great affection and esteem that has surrounded his family in recent days, witnessed by the a tribute from the institutions but also from the common citizens who visited the burning chamber set up in the hall of the Protomoteca of the Campidoglio and from the spontaneous applause that greeted the body’s exit from the church. It is an armored Piazza della Repubblica that welcomed the arrival of the participants in thefuneral. The homily “Many considered him one of us because of that empathetic air, a bit for everyone he was a classmate, the one we all wished, who surely would have helped us. A serene believer, without avoiding doubts, full of respect and grace, like his character. He was a biased man and a man of all, because his part was that of the person “. With these words, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and childhood friend, remembers David Sassoli during his homily. He remembers him as “blessed even in the suffering of illness, lived with dignity without complaining. David was a man of all, politics for him was democracy, he wanted a united Europe”. A heartfelt and shared homily, listened to hand in hand by Alessandra and Giulia,The memory of his wife and children “We looked for and found each other at school. We have always divided and shared you with others, family and work, family and politics, family and passions. We have been your fixed point but to divide and share you with others he has produced this immense thing that we are witnessing in these hours. It will be hard, very hard, but in recent years you have shown us that nothing is impossible “. In the memory of his wife Alessandra Vittorini there is the essence of David Sassoli’s life: family, friends, sharing, work and political commitment.
“Dignity, passion and love are the greatest teaching. You taught us that fame and popularity only make sense if you can do useful things” the words of his son Giulio, hope in the words of his daughter Livia who has read part of the he last message of his pope, written during the Christmas holidays “in recent years we have listened to the silence of the planet, we have been afraid but we have reacted, building a new solidarity because no one is safe alone”. Italy and Europe greet David SassoliThe president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen was greeted by the armed forces’ picket of honor at the entrance to the church. Present were the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the Presidents of the Chamber and the Senate Roberto Fico and Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati. In the church a large part of the Italian government including the ministers Luigi Di Maio, Dario Franceschini, Luciana Lamorgese, Patrizia Bianchi, Andrea Orlando, Lorenzo Guerini. Greetings from colleagues “What joke did you play on us, everyone here talking about you”, and the greeting that Elisa Anzaldo addresses to the journaliston behalf of all colleagues of Rai Tg1. “The praise of meekness, of respect for others without prejudice. You had all the virtues. You broke through walls of rubber with the tenacity of your gentle firmness, with the strength of prudence”. Elisa cries: “Throwing down a wall and social media more than a Facebook group, said David”.
On the altar a representation of the scouts of which Sassoli had been part in the years of youth.
The greeting of a nation of a continent that loved him and that believes in the values ​​of brotherhood and sharing. About 300 people present during the celebration, while a large screen was set up outside to allow the citizens present to attend the funeral rite. The Holy Mass was officiated by the Archbishop of Bologna Cardinal Matteo Zuppiand concelebrated by the Archbishop of Florence Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, by the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, by the Secretary for Relations with States Paul Gallagher, by Mons.Massimiliano Boiardiand by Father Francesco Occhetta. The commotion yesterday in the Campidoglio
Great emotion and an uninterrupted crowd at the funeral parlor set up yesterday in the Campidoglio for David Sassoli. The warmth of institutions, politics and journalism, lifelong colleagues, all close to the wife and children of the former president of the European Parliament. And then many common people, about 4 thousand people, because Sassoli was also the smiling, reassuring and polite face that viewers had had the opportunity to know and love over the years.
Many flowers placed near the coffin and numerous crowns, from those of the institutions to the one sent by Nancy Pelosi. The honor guard of former Tg1 colleagues, travel companions and friends of all time was moving.
David Sassoli’s wife and children welcomed the coffin upon his arrival at the Capitol. The first to arrive in the Protomoteca room were the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and the Prime Minister Mario Draghi, welcomed by the mayor Gualtieri.
While the closure of the funeral home was about to begin in Rome, in Brest, in the north-west of France, Sassoli was remembered with a minute’s silence by European diplomacy at the top of EU foreign ministers, with Luigi Di Maio underlining the “huge void “left by this disappearance.
On Monday afternoon, in Strasbourg, a commemoration will be held at the plenary of the EU Parliament, which should also be attended by Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
