A great day with a great man

Yesterday was a very special, highly emotional day. I was scheduled to meet Simeone Maggilioni – the meeting had been arranged by the mayor of Torrita Tiberina. Simeone Magglioni was a lifelong close companion of Aldo Moro, as well as the founder and director of the “Centro di Studio Aldo Moro” in Turi.

However, Maggilioni, who is 84 years old, had to go to hospital for surgery. This is where he received me. His son-in-law picked me up with his car and brought me there.

We were not alone, though: there also were press representatives and a city councillor from Turi. They all said that they were interested to hear what one of the last living witnesses of the Moro era had to say, and that they wanted to see me as well; two aspects that made the meeting attractive for them.

At the beginning it bothered me that Simeones tales continued to be interrupted by photographs being taken. Then everything calmed down and finally everybody was listening.

Simeone talked about how he grew up as a dirt-poor boy in the slums of Turi, stealing what he needed in order to survive. Aldo Moro got him off the street and made sure he got a proper education. Simeone became his closest confidante, assistant and friend.

He explained that Moro's “Way of the Cross”, as he called it, had begun when he was threatened by Kissinger during his trip to the USA. He immediately flew home and then struggled with the decision whether to give in to the threat or to resist. Simeone gave a detailed description of Aldo's fight with his own fear. Finally, he came to the decision to carry on.

Simeone shared with us the heart-breaking tale of how Francesco Zizzi had come to see him. “Can you help me to become a member of Moro's escort? I would love to work for Aldo Moro.” Simeone helped Francesco – and then saw him lie in his blood in Via Fani, on March 16^th, 1978. He was the one who had to notify his brother.

Everybody in the room fought to hold back their tears. Then I gave Simeone the drawing I had made for him. I could feel almost physically how much it meant to him. We said our farewells; he said: “May God grant that we can meet once again on this earth.” His eyes, as well as my own, reflected our awareness that this will not happen. His son-in-law drove me back to the hotel. And payed my bill there – a gift from the Maggilioni family. A great day with a great man. Soon I am going to be in Fasano where I will visit Fancesco Zizzi's grave.