“Monsignor Giuseppe Betori, general secretary of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), wishes to express his sympathy and solidarity with the President of the CEI, Archbishop of Genoa, at a time when he is being subjected to intimidatory remarks”. So begins the press release issued on the evening of 9 April by the Office of the CEI for social communications, after other intimidatory slogans – “Death to Bagnasco” – and a five-pointed star had appeared in various places in Genoa on the same day, vilifying the President of the CEI, accompanied by slanderous remarks against Cardinal Camillo Ruini and the Pope. “We hope – says the press release – that these are isolated incidents. We are also reassured by the words of the police chief of Genoa, Salvatore Presenti, according to whom as things stand today ‘no raising of the level of attention’ and ‘no preventive measures’ are needed”. Mons. Betori concludes his statement with these words: “Above all we deeply share the invitation to serenity expressed by the President of the CEI himself and wish to thank him for the witness he is giving to the Catholic community and to Italy as a whole”. The new slogans against the Archbishop of Genoa follow that found the other day on the main door of the cathedral of San Lorenzo. Monsignor Bagnasco was nominated as head of the Italian bishops on 7 March, in substitution of Cardinal Camillo Ruini (who is retiring). What triggered the campaign directed against Msgr. Bagnasco was, in particular the Italian episcopate’s “no” to the government’s bill on the rights of unmarried couples.
