Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi
said after a state funeral for 37 quake victims in the Lazio
village Tuesday that "these people died because they loved this
land and we want to stay here!", to loud applause from the
congregation.
Amatrice lost 231 lives in the August 24 quake, by far the
worst hit of Lazio and Marche villages that in total lost 292
people.
"We have two alternatives: that of being overwhelmed by
grief and that of reacting and devoting our time so that the
memory of those who lost their lives is remembered with works of
man.
"I have chosen this second path, we are all ready to play
our part."
Pirozzi stressed the importance of reconstruction, saying it
was a "challenge that starts from Amatrice" and will be backed
by the whole of Italy, "which is a great country, especially in
emergencies".
The mayor gave a big, long hug to Rieti Bishop Domenico
Pompili, who officiated at a ceremony attended by President
Sergio Mattarella, Premier Matteo Renzi and other dignitaries,
as well as aid and relief officials and trade unions.
In his homily, Pompili said that "the earthquake does not
kill. Men's works kill!".
He said that "God must not be used as a scapegoat. On the
contrary, we must look in that sole direction as possible
salvation.
In fact, the question 'Where is God?' must not be asked
afterwards, but it must be asked beforehand, and in any case
always to interpret life and death".
Earthquake reconstruction must not spur a "political row",
Pompili went on.
"It must not bring forms of looting of various kinds, but
what it must do is this: revive the beauty which we are
guardians of", he said.
Pompili said that "deserting these places would be to kill
them a second time".
He said that "we live in a green land, a land of shepherds.
"We must invent a new form of presence that safeguards the
loving and tenacious force of the shepherd".
Pompili ended his homily by saying "as we glean from a
message in poetic form that came to me as well as prayers:
'The voice of Jeremiah the prophet rings out: 'Rachel is
mourning her sons and refuses to be consoled, because
they are no more'.
"We shall not abandon you, man of the Apennines: the shadow
of your house will once again play on its native earth.
"You will be amazed again by the dawn'."
Pompili ended the funeral by thanking for their presence
there the imam of Florence and the president of Italian Muslim
association UCOI, as well as the Orthodox bishop.
"I also thank all the authorities present, starting with
the president of the republic".
Mattarella comforted relatives saying: "Do not be afraid,
we won't abandon you".
"Courage, we are with you", he said.
Renzi told the relatives that "we will rebuild Amatrice,
piece by piece".
He stressed how "fundamental" it was to double check every
stage of the reconstruction.
Responding to an elderly lady, Rita Di Pietro, who said "no
one must get rich with reconstruction", Renzi said "we will do
our utmost to check" and make sure there is no speculation.
"Checking is fundamental" said Renzi.
Renzi said that "the money needed for reconstruction is
there, there is the solidarity of many people, now we mustn't
waste time".
He said "the important thing is to have a strong
community".
Urged by a man, "premier, watch out for the money", he
answered by saying "I feel I can guarantee this checking
(process)".
Earlier, at the start of the service, it took Pompili some
eight minutes to read out the names of the 37 Amatrice
earthquake victims being buried, after which there was a loud
round of applause.
The altar in the area where the funeral was being held was
decorated with a wooden crucifix saved from one of Amatrice's
destroyed churches.
Flowers and white balloons were placed on the coffins
before Pompili began to celebrate the service.
The large canvas tent structure where the funeral took
place was battered by driving rain.
People who didn't get into the large tent wore waterproofs
and held umbrellas to shield themselves from the elements.
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