Italy joined the global community yesterday to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella attended a solemn ceremony at Auschwitz on Holocaust Memorial Day, alongside international leaders. These included German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, King Charles III of the United Kingdom, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Holocaust survivors Marian Turski, Janina Iwanska, Tova Friedman, and Leon Weintraub opened the ceremony, sharing harrowing testimonies of their experiences. They also issued a poignant warning against forgetting the atrocities of the Holocaust. A key to this is the importance of education and vigilance in combating hatred.
New national strategy for anti-semitism
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement acknowledging Italy’s historical complicity during the Holocaust through the Fascist regime’s enforcement of racial laws and participation in deportations. She described anti-Semitism as “a plague that survived the Holocaust” and announced a new national strategy to combat it.
“Fighting anti-Semitism, in all its forms, ancient and modern, is a priority of this government,” Meloni declared. She outlined plans for a comprehensive strategy that includes concrete actions and clear objectives. She also emphasised the importance of eradicating a “vile phenomenon which has no right of citizenship in our societies.”
Pope Francis also marked the day with a powerful call for unity against hatred. Writing on his social media account, he stated: “Let us forcefully reaffirm today that the seeds of anti-Semitism must never again be allowed to take root in the human heart.” He urged humanity to remember the victims of the Holocaust and commit to ending anti-Semitism and religious persecution.
The Italian government’s renewed focus on combating anti-Semitism comes amid growing concerns over the resurgence of hate speech and discriminatory ideologies worldwide.
As the world commemorated the liberation of Auschwitz, leaders and survivors alike reiterated the commitment: “Never again.”
