Approximately 200 mourners attended the funeral of Cecilia De Astis, the 71-year-old woman struck and killed by a stolen car driven by four Roma teenagers in southern Milan. Her coffin, adorned with a floral arrangement of white and magenta blooms alongside yellow gerbera daisies, arrived at San Barnaba Church. Her son Filippo Di Terlizzi brought an orchid to the service. Another son, Gaetano, sisters, and other relatives were also present.
“In life, we shared deep sorrows but also beautiful moments that will now help us bear this grief mixed with anger,” said Lina De Astis, the victim’s sister, during the ceremony. “You were a victim of the failures of our societal system.”
Outside the church, Filippo Di Terlizzi stated, “We must act as a country to prevent these traumatic events. This was not a random death; it could absolutely have been avoided.” He emphasized, however, that those responsible for his mother’s death “are children, not even 14 years old. We cannot place the entire responsibility for this act on their shoulders.”
This sentiment resonated in the homily delivered by Father Davide Bertocchi: “Jesus, through his love, taught that our only enemies are death and evil. Evil and death are the sole enemies. No person should be considered an enemy.”
“Certainly not children,” he continued. “Certainly not children who have been denied their childhood. For them, we can only pray and hope they finally find someone to teach them the love that conquers evil.”
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