The late Giuseppe Siri, Archbishop of Genoa, Italy had a long established reputation for being hyper conservative in all matters pertaining to the traditions of the church.
I have learnt from experience that book covers are often miles distant from their content knowing that covers tend to speak little, or nothing of the chapters waiting to be read.
When Vicar-General of the Genoa archdiocese Siri had also been a serving member of the Genoa partisans. The Liguria regional German Army commander, General Walter Meinhold accepted Siri's offer to mediate a surrender of Meinhold's entire command of some 15,000 men into the arms of the local partisans. This is the only known surrender of a fully equipped German Army division to a resistance organisation, the Committee of National Liberation in April, 1945.
Cardinal Siri had a track record for organising soup kitchens in the years following the end of the second world war feeding the war hungry of his diocese, even rolling up his sleeves to stir the pot. Despite being an excellent organiser Siri would also dive in the deep end to assist with the preparation of minestrone soup, a favourite among the needy seeking a square meal. Siri became known as the "minestrone cardinal" for his relief work in soup kitchens.
Back in 1979 a whirlwind of heroin addiction swept through Italy out of nowhere trapping tens of thousands of young people in its grip. Many of the victims had already started testing recreational drugs, especially marijuana with a wish to participate in what they perceived to be a liberated life style devoid of pressure.
Cardinal Siri quickly recognised the rapid descent into addiction of thousands of young Genoese, and with solid cooperation from the city fathers of Genoa opened an enormous defunct royal palace equipping it with dormatories, kitchens, toilets, shower rooms with a wish to have it operate as a rehabilitation clinic within 60 days from rolling up his sleeves.
American professional drug rehabilitation therapists were imported from the United States, and translators employed to assist the Americans train local Italians as therapists. Within a few months the former royal palace had been filled with scores of victims receiving therapy behind locked doors. The rehabilitation period would last 18 months.
It took some three years of hard work to reverse the damage imposed on the youth of Genoa. The rehabilitation centre continues to supply assistance for those drawn into the clutches of drug addiction.
Among the Genoese Cardinal Siri is remembered for his practical application of The Christ's words to love our neighbour, as we would wish to be loved.
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