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February 5, 2020The impeachment drama and everything leading up to it has made for some high tension in this country. It’s nearly impossible to be on the political fence – you’re on one side or the other and you feel strongly about it. The same was true in Pier Giorgio’s day.
He grew up with politics. His father, Alfredo, become a senator when
Pier Giorgio was just 12 years old. Seven years later, Alfredo was appointed to the prestigious position of Ambassador to Germany. It’s safe to say that, compared to most teenagers then and now, Pier Giorgio was probably much more informed and engaged in the day-to-day world of politics.
Watching how politicians behaved made “the blood boil in his veins!” (Can you relate?) He loved his country and he hated what was happening to it. Writing from the Italian Embassy in Berlin to his good friend Antonio Villani who was back home in Turin, Pier Giorgio expressed his disappointment with strong words.
According to his sister Luciana, Pier Giorgio could not understand why the Catholic politicians he supported were not behaving in a way consistent with their Faith. He had high hopes for the newly formed party and was disillusioned by the “collapse of the spirit and moral responsibility” of its leaders.“I’ve been so deceived by the really shameful behavior of members of the People’s Party. Where is the fine program, where is the Faith which motivates our people? Unfortunately when it is a question of climbing after worldly honors men trample upon their own consciences.”
It upset him so much that he wanted to stay in Germany where he felt like people still had well-formed consciences and behaved with a sense of responsibility. “It is peaceful,” he wrote, “because it is far from our country fallen into the hands of a band of scoundrels.”
One difference between Pier Giorgio and most people is that he didn’t just sit back and complain about what the leaders of the country were doing. He wasn’t a sideline-sitter. He tried to make a difference. He knew that charity was not enough and so he worked to bring about reforms. He participated in gatherings, marched in processions, hung flyers, and worked to persuade others.
Pier Giorgio's actions had an impact on at least one person close to him. Not long after the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini came to power, Alfredo Frassati submitted his resignation as the Italian Ambassador to Germany. He was a man of great conscience and would have never served such a leader. But, when asked about his resignation, he gave a second reason for giving up his political position: “I would never have been able to face my son.”
Blessed Pier Giorgio, patriotic citizen of the nation, pray for us!
Verso l’alto! ///cmw