Crowd at Zanardi’s funeral in Padua. Alex’s handbike in front of the altar

It’s raining outside the church Santa Giustina in Paduawhere the funeral of Alex Zanardifirst a car champion and then a standard-bearer for Paralympic athletes.

Zanardi’s handbike in front of the altar

His is present in front of the altar handbike. A long applause accompanied the entrance of the coffin. After the hug between DanielaAlex Zanardi’s wife and Don Marco Pozza. The basilica is packed with people. Dozens of journalists with cameras and cell phones.

The basilica is packed with people

Among the first pews in the Church present the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodibut also Giovanni Malagò, Luca Pancalli, Luca Zaia, Baby Saw, Alberto Tombatogether with many other authorities from the sporting and institutional world.

Celebrating the function was Don Marco Pozzaprison chaplainTwo Palaces‘ and personal friend of the pilot, who opened the homily retracing the origins of Zanardi through his own words.

Don Pozza: “Zanardi taught us to live as protagonists”

“The beginning of this story is very simple“, began the priest citing the sample. “I was born the son of a very wise man hydraulicof one stay-at-home mother who in the evening, to supplement his salary, made buttonholes on shirts. Many times I got up in the middle of the night and saw a light on: it was my mother who was working”. From those humble roots, Don Pozza recalled, was born the apparently impossible dream of becoming Formula 1 driver. “Yet we had to try. Everything, even the most incredible, originates from an attempt which is always and only a dare. The first step is deciding where we want to go. Then, along the way, things happen”

The memory of the letter that Pope Francis sent to Zanardi

“After the second serious accident, Pope Francis sent Zanardi a letter in June 2020″. This was made known during the homily, in a church packed with authorities and athletes, Don Marco Pozza, a personal friend of the multiple champion”Dearest Alexander – wrote the Pope – lYour story is an example how to restart after a sudden stop. You taught us to live life as protagonists, making disability a lesson in humanity. Thank you, Alessandro, for giving strength to those who had lost it. They are thanks for the great good that has been invented and sown. They are excuses for what could have been done and we failed to do. Because with God nothing of all that has been is lost.”

In Veneto there is regional mourning

The President of the Region, Alberto Stefani has arranged for today the regional mourning with flags at half mast. Many faithful and Italian athletes are expected at the function. TO Bolognathe city where the mayor was born in 1966 Matteo Lepore has proclaimed city mourning for today.

The memory of Luca Zaia

“Last time I met Alex Zanardi it was a Veneziain an initiative promoted by Venetian entrepreneurs to build wells in a school in Sud Sudan“. Thus the president of the Veneto Regional Council, Luca Zaiabefore attending Alex Zanardi’s funeral in the Basilica of Santa Giustina.

“He taught us to focus on what we have and not on what we don’t have. He proved it, he lost his legs and continued to win, conquering many or Paralympics. He was attentive to social issues and then always gave positive messages”, added Zaia.