Thousands at the torchlight procession for Santo Romano

Naples. A crowd of thousands of people to remember Santo Romano with his mother, brother and girlfriend in the front row and with them many others participated in the torchlight procession in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio to remember the 19-year-old killed by a gunshot during the night between Friday and Saturday.

Many people participated in the prayer vigil held by Don Mimmo Battaglia, Archbishop of Napoli, in the main church of the town.

The torchlight procession began outside the town hall of San Sebastiano, the same place where Santo was murdered, and headed toward the diocesan sanctuary of San Sebastiano Martire, where the vigil was held. Bouquets of white roses were placed in front of the town hall of San Sebastiano.

Also present in the square were the families of other young people killed in similar circumstances: among them the relatives of Francesco Pio Maimone, killed by a gunshot during the night between 19 and 20 March 2023 in Mergellina during a fight between teenagers, and the family of Ciro Colonna, murdered by mistake in a Camorra ambush in Ponticelli on 7 June 2016.

"We must not forget the death of this young man. The death of a young man is an impoverishment of a community." He explained prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, at the conclusion of the committee for public order held in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio.

Meetings with magistrates, law enforcement, associations, mayors during the long committee. “There is a need for educational, social and implementation activities for all services. But at this time the social sentinels controlling the territory are failing,” added the prefect.

A hot topic is that of weapons in the hands of young people: "a lot has been done by law enforcement on this front. There are aspects to be explored, such as the transformation of toy weapons into real weapons".

“God, who listens to those who do not speak, I have no more words. Such is the pain and uncertainty! My Church, tired of accompanying young lives to their earthly farewell, has no more words but yours and for this I pray to you: do not stop speaking to those who have not listened to you until now”.

 Don Mimmo Battaglia: “I have no more words”

This is the bitter reflection of the Archbishop of Naples, Don Mimmo Battaglia, during the vigil at the diocesan sanctuary of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio in front of many people who remembered Santo Romano.

“It speaks to the hearts of those who can intervene, of those who can help us put an end to this absurd spiral of violence that is invading the entire metropolitan city,” Don Mimmo Battaglia emphasized.

"I speak to those who have stained the streets, sidewalks, homes, and hearts of our land with blood and fear. Generate holy restlessness and blessed torments in their hearts and reawaken in the conscience of young people and adolescents caught up in the mafia network of violence, the awareness that the true value of man does not lie in dominating and killing but in laying down weapons at your feet, knowing that only you can transform instruments of death into sources of life, knowing that only your forgiveness makes us truly free and restores our lost dignity."

At the end of the vigil, the procession started a torchlight procession to the Town Hall. Here some friends raised banners and shouted repeatedly: "Santo lives with us".