«David was mild and courageous, we miss him»- Corriere.it

«David Sassoli was mild-mannered and courageous. He had great strength, which came from his convictions, from his ideals, rooted in faith and matured in life’s experiences. This is also why he was open to listening. He tried to grasp the new signs of the times, he considered dialogue a precious treasure to draw upon not only in times of difficulty. Her smile was a kindness trait, expressing a spontaneous empathy, an expression of her culture. We miss David Sassoli”.

Thus the head of state Sergio Mattarella recalls the president of the EU Parliament David Sassoli, one year after his passing after a battle with leukemia
. The moved memory of Mattarella is entrusted to the preface of “Wisdom and audacity. Speeches for Italy and for Europe» (Feltrinelli)a volume edited by Claudio Sardo which collects all of Sassoli’s speeches during the years spent at the summit of the European Parliament.

“His testimony of correctness and competence in the journalistic profession, then of service, and therefore of leadership, in the European institutions, constitute a heritage that is still among us – writes the President of the Republic -. He must be made known even more, the writings that he has left us must be studied in depth and meditated on ».

Mattarella, again in his preface, also dedicates a large passage to the current situation and future of united Europe: «
ORToday the EU represents an essential dimension, indispensable for our democracy and for the freedom of every citizen. Without the European institutions, individual states, even the largest ones, would be powerless in the face of increasingly global challenges: from climate change to migratory movements, from demographic dynamics to geopolitical and military ones conducted by actors of a continental dimension, to economic and financial powers that go beyond the borders and influence the markets».