Beatrice Borio
What was your reaction to the earthquake?
At the time of the first quake I was in Lourdes, but when they told me I took the first flight. At Amatrice, the first person I met was Valerio, the baker. He brought me behind his house which was completely destroyed. There he showed me three blacks bags with feet sticking out of them. "This is my wife and these are my two children," he said.
Did you ever ask yourself where was God?
I repeat the phrase that I said during the funeral of the victims. It is not the earthquake that kills, but the works of man. There have always been earthquakes. Man is responsible for these victims (...) For this reason, you cannot take a totally fatalistic attitude against destiny or against God.
After the earthquake, which prevailed - solidarity or selfishness?
Paradoxically, a positive aspect of the earthquake is that it allows people to return to the simplicity of relations. But there are also people who cannot put up with this, like the man who hanged himself a few weeks ago. No one can make it through life alone.
What needs to be done today?
Rebuilding is not only up to the state, it requires the help of a community that does not think only of their own interests. We have to stay close to people, so I decided to write a book with biographies of the 200 victims of the earthquake. Then, we have to help small local businesses that have lost everything. Finally, we have to reopen the places belonging to the community, as well as the churches, so that we can find points of reference.
What was the most painful image and what was the most consoling?
The painful images are many, one feels a sense of powerlessness in the face of desperation. The most beautiful pictures are the first baptisms of children born after the earthquake. Their smile brings hope of rebirth.
Bishop Pompili said that with the money collected would be used to help a couple with a child who had lost their workplace to restart the dairy business.
There is also a video interview with Bishop Pompili on YouTube.
Source: Il Salice
