Palermo remembers Falcone 32 years later: “His memory guides Sicilians”

Last Updated: May 23, 2024

La strage di Capaci 32 anni dopo, Palermo ricorda Falcone: «La sua memoria accompagni la vita dei siciliani»

In the year of the thirty-second anniversary of the Capaci massacre, where Judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo, and the three men of his escort Rocco Dicillo, Vito Schifani, and Antonio Montinaro lost their lives, the Falcone Foundation chooses Palazzo Jung to honor the memory of the heroes who fought against the mafia. Many young people were present, some with banners and signs, some with commemorative shirts, filling the garden where the Museum of Memory will officially be inaugurated.

The first of many events to accompany the day will end at 5:58 under the Falcone tree for a minute of silence. Former President of the Senate Pietro Grasso addressed the youngest attendees: “They are the hope for the future,” he said on the sidelines. Many institutional authorities participated in the event opened by Maria Falcone, who remembered her brother’s sacrifice: “Thirty-two years but it feels like yesterday – she said – this museum embodies the work carried out by the Foundation. The kids need to realize that the mafia is still doing business: I was puzzled to see how they transport drugs in America with a remote-controlled submarine. This is the new evolution.”

She continued: “We still don’t know the converging interests next to the mafia – she said – I would like to say that there are no State powers behind that massacre, I love the State and I cannot think that some institutions conspired against Giovanni.”

The Sicilian governor recalled the figure of Giovanni Falcone and the example he provided to many generations of Sicilians. “The memory of Giovanni Falcone must be part of the daily life of Sicilians – he emphasized – especially for those who hold institutional or responsible roles, to be an example in their actions and decisions.” Various figures from the National Government also participated in the event. Among them, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and his colleague with the Culture portfolio Gennaro Sangiuliano. Government representative Meloni recalled the value of culture in the fight against the mafia. “If we give culture to young people, we keep them away from temptation: this can be done by creating cultural infrastructure – he said – culture should not be a matter relegated to certain restricted areas, it should be spread throughout all territories. With the Cohesion decree, we have implemented the periphery project to bring theaters, libraries, multimedia rooms, and cinemas.”

The meeting also highlighted the work done so far by law enforcement agencies: “So far, 250 million has been confiscated, including companies, stocks, properties, and cash attributable to Matteo Messina Denaro,” recalled ROS commander Vincenzo Molinese. “The mafia – he added – manages to corrupt civil society. Cosa Nostra’s strength lies outside the organization: it manages to penetrate among professionals, institutions, it is its peculiarity.” “In Cosa Nostra, there are no rules of succession – Palermo prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia said – Giovanni Motisi has been on the run for 26 years, too long. We have a duty to end his fugitive status and we will capture him, but there is no declared leader to succeed Messina Denaro.”