L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 T he beginning of a new year is always charged with expec- tations – for us, for those close to us, and for the wider world. Once the inevitable reckoning with the year just ended is over, we all tend to make plans, just as we resolve to start diets or sign up for the gym after the excess- es of the holidays. However abundant the past year may have been, everyone hopes for at least as much ahead, leafing through the pages of the 2026 calendar in search of better days. When the President of the Italian Republic delivered his tra- ditional end-of-year address broadcast nationwide, he opened with a reflection on peace, something that seems increasingly elusive, more often invoked than truly practiced. The global landscape appears marked by widening scenarios of war and conflict rather than by prospects of calm continuity. Yet, Mattarella noted, "peace is, in reality, a way of thinking: a way of living alongside others, respecting them, without seeking to impose one's own will, interests, or dominance. Ways of think- ing – mentalities – begin in everyday life. They concern every Looking back to move forward: Italy in 2026 From the Editor sphere: the international arena, domestic life within individual states, every community, large or small. For every people, they begin with their national dimension." In other words, collective aspirations must first be translated into one's own social and civic context if a climate of serenity is to take hold. A similar appeal came from Pope Leo XIV, who has just closed the Holy Door of the Jubilee of Hope initiated by Pope Francis – an event shared by two pontiffs for the first time since the eighteenth century – and which brought millions of pilgrims to Rome, also supporting the city's tourism sector. On several occasions, he urged people to "reject hatred, violence, and confrontation, and to practice dialogue, peace, and recon- ciliation," stressing the need for dialogue and, above all, the urgency of "disarming words." The Head of State echoed this invitation. "The affirmation of freedom and the construction of peace," he said, "are part of the founding act of our Republic, which expresses the will to build the future together through dialogue. This reflects the responsibility of being citizens." He made these remarks while recalling that this year marks the eightieth anniversary of the Republic, decades he described as "rich in meaning." Paging through an imagined album of republican history, he noted that the first image is the vote of women, who were called to the polls for the first time, giving the Republic "an indelible democratic character" and setting in motion a still ongoing path towards full equality. He also recalled the work of the Constituent Assembly, elected in the context of the referendum that confirmed the republican choice, which drafted the Con- stitution that continues to inspire and guide the country. Mattarella then turned to the signing of the Treaties of Rome in 1957, which placed Italy at the forefront of building a new Europe, and to the transatlantic relationships that took shape with the Marshall Plan. He described these as "pillars of reconstruction" and also as "the coordinates of our internation- al action," reference points for continuing to build the future of a country that has become "a significant actor on the interna- tional stage" and "a success story in the world," the result of the sacrifice, commitment, and participation of many generations of Italians, each of whom "added their own tile to the mosaic." The Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, now just a month away, will mark the first major national and international test for Italy, well beyond their sporting dimension. They will take place alongside a series of other high-profile moments, from L'Aquila's role as Capital of Culture to the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis. Together, these events will place the country under renewed international attention. Because while it is true that "we are appreciated around the world for our way of life, for the beauty of our landscapes, for the artistic treasures we preserve, and for our food and wine culture, which has become part of global heritage" – most recently recognized through the inclusion of Italian cuisine on UNESCO's list – many further challenges await in terms of development and growth in an increasingly fragile world. The guide through this complex path, Mattarella concluded, is "reflecting on what we have achieved together," because "awareness of this history can give us the strength to face with composure the challenges and risks of our time:" the uncer- tainty of the international context, an era in which everything becomes global and interdependent – from the economy to the environment, from climate change to technological revolu- tions. We must roll up our sleeves with the understanding that each of us is called to play a part, according to our level of responsibility, with no one left on the margins. Happy New Year, dear readers! Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 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 © 2025 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

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