In a recent interview with Repubblica.it, Francesco Savino, Bishop of Cassano allo Ionio and Vice President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), expressed serious concerns about the proposed autonomy reform. He described it as a “Trojan horse” that threatens to create two Italys: one prosperous and the other neglected. Savino noted that this perceived threat is why many in Southern Italy are signing petitions for a referendum against the reform, fearing it could lead to increased disparities and conflicts between richer and poorer regions.
Luca Zaia, the President of the Veneto region and a prominent figure in the Northern League, quickly responded to Savino’s comments with surprise and disappointment. He argued that the bishop’s remarks were based on a “misleading and biased” interpretation of the reform. Zaia emphasized that the North and South of Italy are interdependent, and that the autonomy reform could actually help reduce the disparities created by centralization, offering growth opportunities for the South.
Zaia further questioned whether Savino’s views represented an official stance of the CEI or were merely his personal opinion. He expressed concern over what he described as the bishop’s “superficial” evaluation and offered to facilitate discussions between the CEI and experts to address any misunderstandings. Zaia concluded by stressing the importance of the Church in guiding moral and ethical issues but suggested that this time, the direction was misguided, potentially fueled by biased information.
