To mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation, the Italian community in Basel gathered at the Church of Santa Clara for a commemorative evening organised by the Consulate, the Parish of San Pio X and the Dante Alighieri Society. The evening - reports a Consulate statement - was preceded by the traditional laying of a laurel wreath at the monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers of all wars, presided over by the Consul, Benedetta Romagnoli, in the presence of the elected representatives of the community, Comites and Cgie.
In his address to the community at the Church of Santa Clara, Pastor Michele De Salvia invited those present to observe a minute's silence and recollection for the passing of the Supreme Pontiff Francis.
The Consul then greeted the participants with a moment of reflection on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Italy, echoing the words that the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella spoke yesterday during the celebrations in Genoa: "The Pope taught us that every generation must make the struggles and achievements of previous generations its own and lead them to even higher goals. That is why it is always time for the Resistance, that is why the values that inspired it are always current'.
Subsequently, the Consul emphasised the importance of the Liberation anniversary commemorations, quoting the words that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had spoken at yesterday's official ceremonies: 'Today we renew our commitment so that this anniversary may increasingly become a moment of national harmony, in the name of freedom and democracy, against all forms of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and political violence'.
The Consul's greeting concluded with an appeal to young people. As the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, stated at the commemoration ceremony at the Fosse Ardeatine: 'This is not the day of divisions or clashes, it is the day of freedom. With this spirit we must remember 25 April so that it can be a positive message for the future, for all young people'.
The evening ended with a concert by the choral and instrumental ensemble conducted by Maestro Tarcisio Pozzi to pay tribute to the 300th anniversary of the publication of Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
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