What is happening
In a statement marking the anniversary of the massacre on September 29, 1944, Mattarella said that civilians—including children, women, elderly people and priests—were killed. He said the atrocity was rooted in racist beliefs, a desire for domination and a strategy to annihilate populations. He also stressed the duty to preserve the memory of the victims and linked the foundations of Italy’s democratic institutions and Constitution to the suffering endured at Marzabotto and other sites.
Why is it on the Radar?
Mattarella said remembrance remains a civic responsibility as war has returned to Europe and new ambitions for power are emerging. He identified democracy, participation, solidarity and justice as foundations of a culture of peace.