"I thank the Mayor who wanted to recognise, by selecting me, what the Salesians of Don Bosco in Livorno have done through the many volunteers over these 125 years, with vocational training centres, schools, aggregation centres, with the host communities of the CEIS I founded for young people in a state of dependence, with refugees, immigrants" the Salesian said in his words of thanks for the award. "I dedicate the ‘Canaviglia’ to Don Bosco, Father, Teacher. I dedicate it to those who work for the support and formation of the most disadvantaged young people in public and private social sectors, to those who, through their personal commitment to mutual aid, have broken the chains of addiction and resumed living responsibly."
The Salesian was also happy to be awarded on 19 March, on St Joseph's Day, but also on the same day as the elevation of Livorno to City status, and wanted to share the honour with his order and the other volunteers.
In the Ceremonial Hall at the Town Hall, packed with authorities and friends of the priest, Mayor Luca Salvetti recalled that the reason why the Board decided to award the honour to the Salesian is "for the service carried out in fifty years spent among the outer suburbs of our city. Fr Zoppi has dedicated his life to the most marginalised people, offering them assistance and new opportunities, challenging the prejudices that relegate them to the margins of society and inspiring many people who, following his example, have created a broad network of hospitality and solidarity."
The Canaviglia award to Fr Zoppi therefore stands as recognition "of his constant action of care and support of the Livorno community."
Several other authorities and guests spoke during the ceremony. Msgr Paolo Razzauti, Episcopal Vicar for the City, said: "I make a comparison with Fr Milani: Fr Gigi has always helped everyone, he was a social worker, but he has always been a priest to the end, he has never denied his being a priest. For this I say thank you on behalf of the church of Livorno." Fr Armando Zappolini, President of the National Coordination of Reception Communities (CNCA), who called Fr Zoppi "a teacher, a point of reference"; the Prefect of the city, Paolo d 'Attilio, who commented: "I have aleways come across him in my professional career and I have always seen him think of others and never of himself. For this I say thank you"; and finally also a Senegalese, Cissè Mory Guetta, who told his story as a former tomato picker in Rosarno, in Calabria, who thanks to Fr Zoppi alone, as he wanted to emphasise, today has documents, a home and family and a serene life.
Finally, the President of the City Council, Pietro Caruso, also representing the Province of Livorno, and the City Councillor, Paolo Fenzi, also spoke.
Born on the night of San Lorenzo 93 years ago, as a child Fr Gigi was known as Rino, in honour of his mother, who lost her life giving birth to him. His father therefore found himself raising his son without the support of his wife, on bread and communism. And because of his communist beliefs, Luigi's father was not happy about his son's desire to become a priest. Ironically, the father finally sent his son to the seminary after being convinced by the local secretary of the communist party. The seminary was the only way to allow Luigi to study. In 1956 Zoppi became a priest. In 1976 he arrived in Livorno, where he is still active today. As a priest he then became an active part of the recent history of the city. And since his arrival, he took up his role with dedication, his eyes always turned to the most needy.
In the 1970s, drugs were abundant in Italy, and even the squares of Livorno soon became platforms for drug dealing. Heroin first, and cocaine later, were the centre of many young people's lives. People whom Fr Gigi helped from the very beginning, setting up a community where, in addition to proposing values and an alternative life to drugs, he treated people as if they were people to be helped, not derelicts to be discarded, as much of society thought at the time. And so in the community that the priest founded, efforts were made to give boys and girls appropriate work to ensure autonomy and independence, and at the same time to be able to deal with their own frailties through group therapy.
At the end of the eighties, then, he also tackled AIDS: the epidemic arrived in the city, and Fr Zoppi once again helped people whom the rest of society, including their families, marginalised. In the "Tre Ponti" area he opened a centre for the terminally ill, not for palliative care, but as a real family home where even death from serious illness became dignified. Emergency after emergency, since the late 1990s Fr Zoppi also faced a phenomenon that is still not easily managed: immigration. With a strong Christian spirit, Fr Gigi made hospitality his mission: he helped refugees to obtain food, documents, and social assistance. But above all, he helped them find a community. Community is the key word that has marked the work of this street priest: and for this the entire Livorno community is grateful to him today.
