Politics · Italy · 2 days ago
Lucca court to decide dispute over plaque calling Don Milani anti-communist
A court in Lucca, Italy, is hearing a dispute over a plaque at a statue of priest Lorenzo “Don” Milani in Vagli di Sotto.
The plaque quotes a statement condemning communism, which the town says reflects Milani’s views.
The statement comes from a book by Alessandro Mazzerelli, who said Milani made it during a meeting in 1966.
The Don Milani Foundation, joined by former pupils and Milani’s heir, says the words are not documented and do not fit his thinking.
The Foundation has asked the court to have the plaque removed.
At a hearing on October 7, the town and the Foundation were represented, but Mazzerelli was absent and had not been called as a witness.
The judge must weigh his account against statements from Milani’s former pupils; the source gives no decision date.
A civil court in Lucca is to decide whether a disputed anti-communist quote should remain on a plaque at a statue of Don Lorenzo Milani.
The Don Milani Foundation is seeking the plaque’s removal, arguing that the words are undocumented and do not reflect the priest’s views.
The quote is attributed to Milani by Alessandro Mazzerelli, who says Milani made the remark during a 1966 meeting in Barbiana.
The municipality of Vagli di Sotto installed the plaque at the base of the statue in its Park of Honour and Dishonour.
At a hearing on 7 October, the court heard from the municipality and the foundation; Mazzerelli was absent and was not called as a witness.
- Who
- The Don Milani Foundation and the municipality of Vagli di Sotto are the parties in the case before Judge Anna Martelli.
- What
- A judge will decide whether a plaque bearing a disputed anti-communist quote attributed to Don Milani should be removed.
- When
- The hearing took place on 7 October 2026. The decision date is not stated.
- Where
- The case is before the civil court in Lucca; the statue is in Vagli di Sotto, in Garfagnana.
- Why
- The foundation says the quote is undocumented and does not reflect Milani’s thought. The municipality placed it on the plaque.
Don Milani Foundation
Municipality of Vagli di Sotto
Authenticity of quote
Don Milani Foundation
The foundation says the quote is not documented and does not match Milani’s thought and style.
Municipality of Vagli di Sotto
The municipality placed the quote on the statue’s plaque; its reasons for doing so are not stated.
Plaque
Don Milani Foundation
The foundation is asking for the plaque to be removed.
Municipality of Vagli di Sotto
The municipality is contesting the foundation’s request; its arguments are not stated.
Milani wrote to his cousin that opposing communism would seem to him like opposing history.
Mazzerelli says he met Milani in Barbiana and heard the disputed judgement about communism.
The Lucca court held a hearing attended by the municipality and the Don Milani Foundation; Mazzerelli was absent.
- Judge
- Anna Martelli
- Court
- Civil court in Lucca
- Hearing
- 7 October 2026
- Statue location
- Park of Honour and Dishonour, Vagli di Sotto
- Disputed quote source
- A book by Alessandro Mazzerelli
What people are saying
The writing beneath the statue is a disgrace to the memory of Don Lorenzo and his work.
To fight communism would seem to me to be opposing history, which is like rebelling against God, because it is he who draws it.
Sources
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