Mattarella: 'Making society more welcoming is oxygen'

"Your behaviors are the denial of solitude, in our time, it is paradoxical, solitude is a very high danger, we are inundated with images and messages, from all sides, sometimes untrue. The behaviors you have adopted break the solitude", said the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in his greeting at the ceremony for the delivery of the honors "For Merit of the Italian Republic" to citizens who have distinguished themselves for acts of heroism and civil commitment, underway at the Quirinale .

The people who receive the recognition "are not exceptions, many others are inspired by these values, to make society more welcoming. You represent them all. It is important to underline how much oxygen these initiatives bring to common life". "We will soon hear some brief notes that illustrate the actions and initiatives that you have adopted and that have led to the awarding of the honors, stories of solidarity, sense of humanity, of taking on the difficulties of other people. These are not awards to heroes, the people who were here and who are awarded live normal everyday life, this is the value of their behavior, they feel the values ​​of the relationship between people, the sense of community, the need to take care of people who have difficulties, who are weaker".

There are 31 Italian "civil examples" (PHOTO) who have received as many honors of merit of the Republic assigned, motu proprio, by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.