Schlein, Delrio and many friends at the Prodi house in the memory of Flavia Franzoni

The secretary of the Pd Elly Schlein arrived at the home of the Prodi family in via Gerusalemme in Bologna to offer condolences to the professor Romano Prodi for the death of his wife, Flavia Franzoni. The funeral of the professor, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76, will be celebrated by the archbishop Matteo Zuppi, president of the CEI, on Friday 16 June at 11.30 in San Giovanni in Monte; the function will be preceded by a funeral home in the parish.

The Pd secretary arrived by car, accompanied by an escort, rang the bell, announcing herself, and got in. When she left the Prodi house she was visibly moved and preferred not to speak to journalists.

The former minister has also arrived Arturo Parisi at the home of the Prodi family. Parisi was walking along a Franciscan path near Gubbio with Mr and Mrs Prodi and other friends, when the wife of the former president of the European Commission fell ill and died. Parisi also preferred not to comment.

Among the many people arriving at Professor Prodi’s house is also the Pd deputy and former minister Graziano Delrio.

“Flavia Franzoni Prodi was a beautiful, nice woman, she always had a smile on her face and was very intelligent. Much of Romano’s strength and many of Romano’s ideas came from Flavia”. The banker and friend of the Prodi family said so, Massimo Ponzellini, leaving the professor’s house in the company of his brother Francesco. “The professor has a great faith, a big family and he takes refuge in his family and in his faith – added Ponzellini – and with these two bulwarks he will have a sad but full of satisfactions future”.

Flavia Franzoni, the discreet first lady: “Don’t call me Prodi’s wife”

by Giovanni Egidio

June 14, 2023

There are many bouquets of flowers, messages of condolence that are arriving at the Prodi house. For those wishing to remember Franzoni with a donation, the family has indicated three associations to which they are very close: they are the Cuamm of Padua, the Casa di Santa Chiara of Bologna and the Abele group.

“You have been very affectionate, thank you,” Prodi told reporters waiting for him outside his house and shook everyone’s hands. Prodi had left on foot in the morning, accompanied by the spokesperson Roberta Zampa, and had headed towards Piazza Santo Stefano. When he returned home he was also accompanied by his eldest son, Giorgio.

Professor Prodi, accompanied by his sons Giorgio and Antonio and his grandchildren, went to the Certosa cemetery, where his wife Flavia Franzoni was taken yesterday, for a moment of prayer. Even in the early afternoon, the family received visits from many friends, including the senator Sandra Zampaits historic spokesperson, the economist and business executive Franco Debenedetti And Richard Levithe former undersecretary to the Prime Minister in the second Prodi government.

“Romano lives with this thing on him,” said Debenedetti, making the gesture of a weight. “I too know that emptiness from having experienced it, in the future there are children and grandchildren”, he added. “The most difficult moment is in the evening – added Levi – because it is the moment of remembrance and solitude”. There were also many condolence calls to Professor Prodi, including that of the mayor of Bologna, Matthew Leporewho is currently on a mission in Brussels.