During the funeral of Cecilia De Astis, the 71-year-old struck and killed by a stolen car driven by four Romani teenagers, parish priest Don Paolo Steffano urged the Gratosoglio community to reject anger and seek hope. “There is hope. And where we don’t see it, we go look for it. Nothing is born from diamonds. Flowers are born from manure, and here in Gratosoglio we certainly don’t have diamonds. But we have many flowers – let’s not forget them. And if we don’t see them, let’s go look for them. Outbursts of rage are useless,” stated Steffano, head of the Gratosoglio pastoral community.
He acknowledged widespread indignation over the tragedy but insisted anger serves no purpose. “Discussions, proclamations, and especially buck-passing – blaming another institution – are useless. Documents about the suburbs or encyclicals on peaceful coexistence aren’t enough either. What we need are concrete actions,” Steffano emphasized.
Referencing Fabrizio De André’s song ‘Don Raffae’, which critiques state inaction (“Page one, twenty news items, twenty-one injustices, the State expresses dismay, indignation, commitment, then throws in the towel with great dignity”), the priest called for tangible engagement. “We need men and women with fire inside them, as our Archbishop says – concrete people who inhabit and live our reality, not just talk. People who don’t stay silent but act concretely. And when they try to silence us, as Jesus said about Jerusalem, the stones will cry out.”
Concluding his eulogy, Steffano envisioned Gratosoglio receiving sustained investment from institutions and private entities in tackling educational poverty, supporting schools, sports associations, neighborhood cooperatives, and parishes. “I entrust all this to Cecilia. Cecilia, I entrust our hopes to you,” he said, thanking the victim’s family for not succumbing to rage.
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