In his end-of-year message, President Mattarella displays a painting by children from the Autism Center

In his traditional end-of-the-year message, the president of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, displayed a painting created by the children of the Verona Autism Diagnosis Care and Research Center, a specialized center of the Children’s Neuropsychiatry of ULSS 20 in the Venetian city. The president mentioned the work in the closing lines of his message. “I have known in these years many people engaged in activities of great social value,” Mattarella said at the conclusion of the speech, “and many extraordinary places where the relationship with others is not perceived as a limitation, but as that which gives meaning to life. I mention one among many while remembering and greeting the children and adults of the Autism Care Center, in Verona, which I recently visited. They gave me paintings and drawings made by them. They are all very beautiful: expressing creativity and the ability to communicate and participate. I wanted to place one of them next to me this evening. I thank them again and extend my warmest wishes to all of them. I wish you all a happy new year.”

The meeting mentioned by Mattarella was held last Nov. 30 on the sidelines of the opening of the academic year at the University of Verona. The Verona Autism Center is anexcellence in the treatment of this neurodevelopmental disorder and was founded in early 2018 by resolution of the Veneto Regional Council. The center deals with early diagnosis, etiological investigations, and in-depth internist investigations: a highly trained staff of neuropsychiatrists, psychologists, neuroradiologists, geneticists, gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, allergologists, immunologists, and endocrinologists work there. So-called art therapy is a measure that is increasingly used in autism treatment centers, given the unquestionable benefits it offers to people with the disorder, who thus have a way to express their creativity while also achieving remarkable results (and very often exhibitions are organized in which their work is presented to the public). The President of the Republic displayed behind him an interesting painting reminiscent ofinformal art.

Sergio Mattarella’s message was the most watched of the four he has given so far during his term in office: more than ten million Italians connected to the TV to hear it. From the president came an appeal for cohesion, a heartfelt condemnation against rancor, insult, and intolerance, a firm and explicit stance against “taxes on goodness,” a wish for the image of “positive Italy” to prevail, and an exhortation for a more serene coexistence, without closing one’s eyes in the face of difficulties. The president also stressed that coexistence is the basis for security to be truly realized, which cannot be achieved in the absence of “work, education, more equitable distribution of opportunities for young people, attention for the elderly, serenity for retirees after a lifetime of work.” Finally, Mattarella wished a Happy New Year to all Italians living at home or abroad, and a Happy New Year to the five million immigrants living in Italy.

In his end-of-year message, President Mattarella displays a painting by children from the Autism Center

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