Yesterday there Mass to remember Antonio Bisaglia 40 years after his death. The ceremony was officiated by the bishop of Rovigo, Pierantonio Pavanello, at the Rotonda church, in the presence of local and national authorities, such as the former President of the Chamber Pierferdinando Casini and Lorenzo Cesa.
Rovigo yesterday paid homage to Bisaglia, at the Tempio della Rotonda, among many representatives of the institutions of the capital and the Province, the prefect Clemente Di Nuzzo, the president of the Province Enrico Ferrarese, the senator Bartolomeo Amidei, the regional councilor Cristiano Corazzari, the regional councilor Laura Cestari, the secretary of the Democratic Party Angelo Zanellato, and then many politicians of then and now.
“Politics is the art of building the common good of society. Bisaglia embodied this in his life. Today we express in prayer our gratitude for his work, for the time, strength and dedication that he employed and put at the service of the community” began Pavanello, starting the celebration. Recalling the senator’s Polesine roots, his early years spent in the bishop’s seminary and his activity in Catholic Action, he continued: “Since 1984 many things have changed in Italy: there is more inattention and a widespread negative judgment towards politics and politicians. In reality, politics is a demanding way of exercising charity towards others and the good of the citizen”.
Honoring the memory of one of the fathers of Christian Democracy, Casini underlined: “We are here to remember this figure of importance, not only for his territory – for Rovigo – but also for the entire Republic”. At the end of the mass, the senator read the message sent by the President of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa: “I am sure that this solemn moment will bear witness to the moral greatness and citizen commitment of Bisaglia. He lived his civic passion and politics every day with faith, dedication and generosity.”
Among the shared emotional memories of the many present, the bishop explained: “With gratitude we hope that by valorising these examples, such as Bisaglia, a season of commitment and service in Christian values will open for the whole of society”
Furthermore, in his speech, Monsignor Pavanello said that “since the death of Senator Bisaglia, disaffection from politics has grown, which manifests itself above all in non-participation in the vote and in a widespread negative judgment towards those involved in politics. But even politicians can save themselves, indeed politics, lived in its authentic meaning, is a very high calling, it is one of the most precious forms of charity, because it seeks the common good. This vision was not foreign to Antonio Bisaglia”. And he added: “In the complexity of political commitment, he always retained the reference to the dimension of values and ideals, experiencing the fatigue and effort of combining this dimension with concrete situations and with the interests of people and groups.”
And finally: “It is important to remember that he tried to do good for the country and, in particular, for his land of origin. Our prayer this evening, forty years after his tragic death, cannot fail to express the feeling of gratitude for many achievements due to his commitment and foresight, achievements which Polesine still enjoys today. At the same time we ask that, by valorising the example of many Christians who have committed themselves to political action, a new season of commitment and service to society and the country be opened, inspired by the social thought of the Church, a thought that is always current and fruitful of new and more incisive creations”.
