Mattarella pays homage to Don Milani and the value of the school: “Never silence someone, much less a book or a presentation”

Don Lorenzo Milani, his country school in the mountains at Barbiana, an exile that became a beacon. It happened in Italy in the 50s and 60s, but it is also true today. Sergio Mattarella arrives for the centenary of his birth, with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and Rosy Bindi, president of the committee for the celebrations. «A great Italian», defines him as the Head of State.

«If the Gospel was the fire that drove him to love, the Constitution was his lay gospel. “I learned that other people’s problems are the same as mine. Sorting out together is the policy. To get out of it alone is avarice”. It’s hard to find more effective words », he articulates.

Don Milani’s lesson was inclusion, comparison, learning from others. Especially from the last ones. And from those who are different from us. Thus the Head of State takes the opportunity to give a severe stick to the intolerant, of every color and latitude, with a transparent reference to those who contested the presentation of the book by Minister Eugenia Roccella, in Turin, at the Book Fair, a few days ago: «He tried to instill the desire to learn, the willingness to work together with others. He tried to establish the habit of observing the things of the world with a critical spirit. Without ever escaping the confrontation, without pretending to silence someone, much less a book or its presentation. In short, he invited us to know how to discern ». Protesters and protesters are served.