Judge Romina Incutti
The Italian and Italian-American community in Washington, DC, recently commemorated the 26th anniversary of the assassination by the Mafia of Italian judge and prosecuting magistrate Giovanni Falcone, with a memorial mass celebrated at Holy Rosary Church and a reception at the Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center.
At the conclusion of the mass, special remarks both in Italian and English were made by Judge Romina Incutti, who currently serves as a legal expert and advisor to the Embassy of Italy in Washington. Judge Incutti said she regards the assassination of Falcone as one of the most tragic moments in Italian history. Falcone was a servant of the institutions, “un eroe del quotidiano,” who sacrificed everything, his personal and professional life for the law, she said. He was a patriot of Italy and a close friend of the United States.
Judge Incutti recalled movingly that when she began her career as the Public Prosecutor at the Criminal Court of Sciacca, Sicily, along with newly-appointed magistrates, Falcone was their hero.
Judge Incutti noted that Falcone’s death was not in vain. She highlighted the prominence of Falcone’s work, and the law enforcement legacy he left behind, in Italy and the rest of the world. For example, Falcone’s assassination helped pave the way for the adoption of the landmark UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, also known as the Palermo Convention, which came into force in December 2003.
Last year, the U.N. General Assembly held a high-level debate on transnational organized crime, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Falcone’s assassination.
A reception followed at Casa Italiana, where parishioners and guests had a chance to mingle. The reception was made possible thanks to the generous contributions of local Italian and Italian-American organizations, including the Lido Civic Club of Washington, DC, the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society, the Sons of Italy International Lodge, Italians in DC, the Italian Cultural Society, Holy Rosary Church, and Voce Italiana. Catering was provided by Simonetta Baldassari’s Pappa Fresca. The event was coordinated by Francesco Isgro, Executive Editor, Voce Italiana.
The Giovanni Falcone reception was catered by Simonetta Baldassari’s Pappa Fresca.
(Source: Voce Italiana 2018)
