Romano Prodi, awarded the golden Archiginnasio: «In every field Bologna deserves the Champions League. The Olive Tree was born here: it’s no coincidence”

The protagonists of the Ulivo years, such as Albertina Soliani and Arturo Parisi (who hugs him with a resounding «Good morning President!»). The present and past faces of politics and institutions, from Pier Ferdinando Casini to Vasco Errani. The large family of true Prodians, such as Alberto Clò and Patrizio Bianchi, and the very large Prodi family, his sons Giorgio and Antonio, his grandchildren and all the others. Then the big names in economics and business, from Maurizio Marchesini to Pierluigi Stefanini, personalities from the University, from the Church of Bologna and even the eternal boy Gianni Morandi. It’s a full Bologna the one that this morning filled the covered square of Sala Borsa for the ceremony awarding the Golden Archiginnasio to Romano Prodi.

Prodi: the Ulivo was born here, it’s no coincidence

«For several decades you have been one of the twelve doors of Bologna, the one open to Europe. Thanks to you, many citizens of Bologna and Emilia-Romagna have become passionate about the European Union.” Mayor Matteo Lepore welcomes him, the first to propose giving the Professor the highest recognition that the Municipality assigns to personalities from the world of culture and science. Today, the Brothers of Italy’s vote against and the other abstentions in the center-right matter little: «It is written in the Gospel of Luke “woe to you when all men speak well of you, in the same way their fathers did with the false prophets”, underlines Lepore, quoting the words with which Giuseppe Dossetti welcomed the golden Archiginnasio by mayor Renzo Imbeni. The former prime minister took the floor recalling the Suviana massacre («A truly dramatic tragedy») and then thanked for the honor received: «It is a recognition that honors me so much. Just because I was
awarded by the city of Bologna to which I feel so deeply attached.” The Professor recalled the years of teaching and political commitment, that Ulivo which “It doesn’t seem accidental to me that he was born right here”, the bond with a city “from which I received much more than I was able to give back, even in terms of affection”. But he also looked to the future, to the need for a city that “must not only attract students, but with them also many, many, many professors and scientists”. Finally, a wish, with a (not only) football flavor: «This city deserves to win the Champions Cup. In every field.” And then the thought of his wife Flavia Franzonithe university professor who died suddenly last June. «This recognition is dedicated to you, to whom else?». At the end of the presentation Prodi also stopped to reflect on the international situation.
«Today we find ourselves in the worst situation I could imagine, there is none
in the world there is a point of equilibrium and there is not even an agreement between different people
balance points. I hope that tensions decrease, that Americans and Chinese
start talking at least on the phone, they are the ones who have the world in their hands. I hope that Europe can have its own voice, in all these conflicts there is no Europe’s voice and you can imagine my disappointment”, the words of the former prime minister.

Goulard’s speech

Previously, Sylvie Goulard, political advisor to the Professor during the years as president of the EU Commission, spoke and recalled «Romano Prodi’s always broad vision and its foresight, based on the sense of interdependence between peoples and the relative weight of our countries in the world, combined with a very evident strategic awareness.” She too, like Lepore, addresses a thought to Flavia Franzoni: «A person who is here in our hearts. Among all the things you gave us there was also this example of a united couple, happy and capable of self-irony.”