by InTrieste
In what promises to be a momentous occasion, President Sergio Mattarella is on track to receive an honorary degree in Law from the University of Trieste, alongside former Slovenian President Borut Pahor. The esteemed recognition comes as the university commemorates its centennial year.
News of this anticipated event was unveiled to the local press by none other than the university’s chancellor, Roberto Di Lenarda. Di Lenarda had hinted at the plan back in December during the inauguration ceremony of the academic year.
The date of 12 April, 2024 has been confirmed, and both Pahor’s team and the offices at the Quirinale are reportedly collaborating to finalize logistics.
This gathering holds profound symbolic significance, marking four years since the joint visit on July 13, 2020, when both presidents attended the ceremony for the return of Narodini Dom to the Slovenian community in Trieste. At Basovizza, they paid homage by clasping hands at the Memorial to the victims of the Foibe massacres and to the monument honoring Slovenian partisans executed by fascists.
These poignant images have become emblematic of reconciliation between the two peoples. The presentation of these dual honorary degrees will serve as a reaffirmation of shared values for a peaceful future. It’s particularly resonant in a locale like Trieste, scarred by the tumultuous history of the 20th century, and it signifies the apex of the University of Trieste’s centennial voyage, which, as Di Lenarda articulated, has always served as a vital conduit and facilitator of dialogue.
