L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 F o r t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , t h i s i s a spiritually signifi- cant year, but the J u b i l e e a l s o h a s inevitable repercussions on customs, traditions, society, art, and public works, making it an opportunity to discover much about Italy. Put simply, it can be a journey of knowl- edge from multiple perspec- tives. The first Jubilee was pro- claimed in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII with the Bull Antiquo- rum Habet Fida Relatio. References to it appear in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, where he not only describes the immense flow of pilgrims crossing the bridge in front of Cas- Faith and culture: an inseparable connection From the Editor tel Sant'Angelo but also recounts his own journey through Hell (symbolizing sin), Purgatory (expiation), and Paradise (bliss). His journey through the afterlife, which is the subject of his masterpiece, is set precisely in the year of the first Jubilee. This temporal coincidence gives the Divine Comedy, now regarded as a cornerstone of world literature, even greater symbolic significance, expressing a hope for renewal both physically and spiritually. Among the key historical figures who participated in the Jubilee of 1300 were two giants of art history: Cimabue and Giotto. Giotto, in particular, was commissioned to paint the frescoes in the Loggia delle Benedizioni in the Vatican, a structure built specifically by Boniface VIII for the occasion. Initially, the Holy Year was held every 100 years. In 1343, Pope Clement VI reduced the interval to 50 years, and in 1470, Pope Paul II further shortened it to 25 years with a papal bull. The next Jubilee, in 1475, was proclaimed by Pope Sixtus IV, officially establishing the tradition as we know it today. In anticipation of this event, Rome has long prepared with major public works. At the time, Sixtus IV sought to beautify the city with significant projects, the most famous being the Sistine Chapel. Some of the greatest artists of the time—Verrocchio, Signorelli, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Perugino, and Pinturicchio, to name a few—worked in Rome during this period. For the Jubilee of 1400, Pope Boniface IX focused on improving roadways to ensure safer travel for pil- grims. In 1450, the Church of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore in Rome was built in honor of the event. What about today? For the Great Jubilee of 2000, a mas- sive urban redevelopment plan was implemented, involving the renovation of numerous public spaces and large-scale projects. These included the transformation of the Scuderie del Quirinale into an exhibition venue (designed by Gae Aulenti), the construction of the Church of Dio Padre Miseri- cordioso (designed by Richard Meier), the restoration of the Capitoline Museums, and the expansion of Rome's Museum of Contemporary Art. Significant investments were also made in extending the metro system and pedestrianizing Via dei Fori Imperiali. The 2025 Jubilee has also led to extensive construction projects, including the redevelopment of Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, improvements in the districts of Tor Vergata and Centocelle, the creation of an underpass in Piazza Pia to ease traffic and establish a pedestrian area con- necting Castel Sant'Angelo and Via della Conciliazione to St. Peter's Square, and the restoration of the Trevi Fountain. Looking at artistic expressions of the Jubilee, one particu- larly interesting element is its official logo for 2025. The design features four figures in different colors, symbolizing humanity coming from the four corners of the earth and walking together. They embrace each other in a gesture of brotherhood, with the first figure holding onto a cross that extends into an anchor—representing stability and support amid life's challenges. Equally intriguing is the Jubilee's offi- cial mascot, Luce, a character reminiscent of animated fig- u r e s . C r e a t e d b y i l l u s t r a t o r S i m o n e L e g n o , L u c e w a s designed to reflect contemporary youth culture and convey a message of hope and inclusivity. This pop-cultural element adds a modern and accessible touch to an event steeped in centuries of spiritual meaning and religious symbolism. Ultimately, faith is very much connected with everyday life, often in ways we do not immediately recognize. Sym- bols, rituals, traditions, and folklore events become markers of cultural identity. Even if we do not actively practice a par- ticular religion, many aspects of our lives are rooted in reli- gious history and the shared experiences of a community. Understanding these traditions allows us to draw valuable lessons from the past and gain deeper insight into the pre- sent. Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. Box 40156 Pasadena CA 91114 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. Levy, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Chuck Pecoraro, Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio, Luca Signorini, Giulia Franceschini © 2024 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano P.O. Box 40156 Pasadena CA 91114 Remembering Maria Gloria through the words of her husband Anthony F or over forty years, Maria Gloria was a cherished and invaluable voice at L'Italo-Americano. The words that follow, written by her husband, seemed to us the most heartfelt and authentic way to remember her—a sin- cere tribute to the extraordinary woman she was, both in life and in writing. We enjoyed 65 years of marriage. Maria Gloria was an amazing woman in so many ways. Not long after we were married, she was riding home on a San Francisco Muni bus when her shopping bag—containing her purse—was stolen. A few days later, I received a phone call from a woman who had found the purse in Golden Gate Park. She said she wanted to return it. "I know your wife is a good woman," she told me. I replied, "That's true, but how do you know that?" She said, "I found a clipping in her purse with one of my favorite quotations: 'I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do, let me do it now because I shall not pass this way again.'" Living with Gloria has been extraordinary. I was involved in some of her endeavors, but more often I was simply a bystander, witnessing how much she accomplished and how deeply she lived to help others. She achieved more than I can list here, but a few moments stand out. She founded Benefit Blast, a singles group that raised thousands of dollars for Boys Town of Italy. She co- founded the Italian American Museum at Fort Mason and helped launch one of its most successful exhibits, the Ducati motorcycle exhibit. For forty years, she was a volunteer columnist for L'Italo- Americano, and in 2008 was recognized as the paper's most- read columnist, both in paper and online. She broke barriers as the first female member of UNICO, an all-male Italian Ameri- can service organization, and was later honored as Woman of the Year. She also helped found the National Italian Ameri- can Foundation. Her entrepreneurial drive led her to open the Italian Ameri- can General Store, later known as Angelina's Deli. She was also made an honorary member of the Italian American Lawyers Association. Her generosity and dedication to her roots were evident in the many projects she funded in her father's hometown of Pomarico: she donated an ambulance to the hospital, funded a children's library and a botanical garden, and contributed to the restoration of a local church's frescoes. Best of all, she gave me two wonderful daughters who are a credit to the human race. My wife's favorite quotation was, Better than the gold of kings is the memory of happy things. I have happy memories of my life with Maria Gloria and am so grateful for our life together.

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