The Art of Justice: Rosario Livatino arrives at Collegio Sant’Ignazio 

The students of Collegio Sant’Ignazio will be in charge of “Sub tutela Dei. Judge Rosario Livatino,” an exhibition about the life of the anti-mafia judge who was killed on September 21st, 1990, by four hitmen from the Stidda criminal organization. 

The exhibition, composed of 35 panels, aims to introduce the extraordinary figure of Rosario Livatino, a Sicilian magistrate who worked throughout his career in the Agrigento area, was murdered by the mafia in 1990, and was beatified on May 9th, 2021. The exhibition will be divided into four sections, enriched with texts, images, videos, and an audio recording: from Livatino’s personal formation and the social and human context in which he grew up and lived, to his life as a judge; from his murder and the fate of the witness to his killing, to the legacy he left behind – including the important role of the Church in resisting the mafia – and the testimonies of men and women who, in various ways, knew and encountered Rosario Livatino. The exhibition will be managed by the students of Collegio Sant’Ignazio, who will guide visitors through the discovery of the magistrate, also known as “the saint judge.” Livatino was indeed beatified on May 9th, 2021, a formal recognition of the social and spiritual significance of his life and work. 

For the occasion, the Institute has chosen to display the panels from May 14th to 19th at the Sala Palumbo inside the Palacultura Antonello Da Messina and, from May 20th to 23rd, in the Aula Magna of Collegio Sant’Ignazio. The official inauguration will take place on Wednesday, May 14th, in the presence of the Mayor of Messina, Dr. Federico Basile; the Chief Public Prosecutor of Messina, Dr. Antonio D’Amato; the Chief of Police of Messina, Dr. Annino Gargano; the President of the ANM Board of Messina, Dr. Andrea La Spada; the President of the Bar Association of Messina, Lawyer Paolo Vermiglio; the Councilor of the Messina District for the National Bar Council, Lawyer Francesco Pizzuto; the Head of Education of Messina, Professor Leon Zingales; His Excellency Monsignor Cesare Di Pietro, Bishop of the Diocese of Messina; Father Alessandro Viano SJ, Director of the Jesuit Education Pastoral Foundation; and Professor Maria Muscherà, General Director of the Collegio Sant’Ignazio Institute. The inaugural ceremony will be introduced by journalist Milena Romeo, with contributions from Alessandra Calafiore, Councillor for Social Policies of the Municipality of Messina, Roberta Masotto, Curator of the exhibition ‘Sub Tutela Dei’ by Livatino, and Salvo Presti, Director of the docufilm ‘LUCE VERTICALE’. Also participating will be students from the Sant’Ignazio Andrea di Pietro College: the fifth-year class of the Human Sciences high school and Giuseppina Sapenza from the third-year classical high school class.

Collegio Sant’Ignazio wishes to honor this immensely important figure in the Sicilian and Italian landscape, inviting the wider public and the other schools in the Network to visit the exhibition.