Misericordie, farewell to Giulia and Gianni

There was a large crowd this morning in the square in Terranuova Bracciolini (Arezzo), where the funeral of Giulia Santoni and Gianni Trappolini was being held, the two volunteers killed last Monday in the tragic collision on the A1 motorway, near Arezzo.

The funeral, officiated on a special stage by the Bishop of Arezzo, Andrea Migliavacca , was attended by several thousand citizens, some from nearby towns, and many volunteers from other Misericordie organizations in Italy, who wished to express their condolences to the families of the two volunteers and to the Terranuova confraternity, which had been so severely affected. Many volunteers, wearing small black ribbons on their yellow and blue uniforms, also attended. Numerous volunteers from Pubbliche Assistenze and the Red Cross also came to convey the condolences of so many.

Many dignitaries were present. "We are gathered here in a pain we never wanted to experience," said Deputy Minister for Social Policies Maria Teresa Bellucci , "and we stand with the families of Giulia and Gianni and with the Misericordie community, which has lost two of its most precious children. The Government," she concluded, "is dutifully here to show its gratitude and support to those who give of themselves for the most vulnerable."

" Gianni, Giulia, and Franco are in God's hands today. The beauty of their lives shines in his hands ," said Monsignor Migliavacca, quoting the Book of Wisdom .

At the end of the ceremony, some members of the Buddhist prayer community Giulia attended also spoke. " The end of life," they said, according to La Nazione di Arezzo, "is merely a departure toward a new existence. The bonds we forge from life to life in this present existence are not extinguished by death; even if they may be invisible, these connections last eternally. "

Domenico Giani, president of the Misericordie d'Italia, expressed a particularly paternal remembrance: "On this day of mourning and profound sorrow, on behalf of the National Confederation of the Misericordie d'Italia , I wish to express my deepest condolences for the tragic passing of our volunteers Gianni and Giulia," he said. "They were on duty, alongside those in need, driven by a profound sense of duty and an extraordinary spirit of solidarity. Their loss is a profound wound for our entire community, which today joins in a silent and respectful embrace with their families and the confraternities to which they belonged . Gianni and Giulia," Giani continued, "were not simply performing a service: they had chosen to dedicate their lives to others. Their example will remain engraved in the memory of all of us, and we will remember them with infinite gratitude and affection. May the Lord give credit to Giulia and Gianni, accompanied by Mary, Mother of Mercy."

In memory of Giulia and Gianni, our "thank you" to the rescuers

The photos in this article are by Luca Venturi, whom VITA thanks for their kind permission.

Tags:
• third sector
• Volunteering