10/6-10/13 #2

These attacks have been received with the highest alarm. While meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, the President said he would like for church and state to become harmonious in working together to solve this problem. Earlier the pope stated there were obvious signs that pointed towards social tensions. As recently as last week the Italian Parliament went back and forth as to wether they are facing a racism emergency. Roberto Maroni, the interior minister, stated that he thought that the attacks were at random and people should not be overly concerned.



The confrontations have resonated at the highest levels. In a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Quirinal Palace in Rome this month, President Giorgio Napolitano called for church and state to work together “to overcome racism.” He cited a recent speech in which the pope pointed to “worrisome new signs” of deepening social tensions. Last week, Parliament debated whether Italy was facing what newspaper headlines referred to as a “racism emergency.” The interior minister, Roberto Maroni, of the separatist Northern League, said that the attacks were isolated and that the alarm was overstated.