The Philosophy of Truth: Rosario Livatino and the Magistrates
“Verus philosophus est amator Dei” (“only he who loves God is a true philosopher”), wrote St. Augustine in his De Civitate Dei, not to recruit followers but to indicate the vertical and philosophical line of transcendence beyond the horizontal and philological line of immanence. These words clarify that only those who seek and love truth beyond the world, time, and themselves can truly be called a philosopher, a genuine friend of wisdom, and therefore of the highest good and justice, ultimately of God.
Those who remain trapped in personal interests, who refuse to acknowledge truth even when it is presented before their eyes, and those who demand to be worshiped like gods, are destined to remain prisoners of history, hostages of themselves, and captives of their own ideologies.
The Article from Repubblica
In this light, we can understand the commentary by Liana Milella on La Repubblica on June 21, 2024, criticizing the initiative of Prosecutor Domenico Airoma from Avellino, who proposed electing the blessed Rosario Livatino, a young magistrate brutally killed by the mafia in Sicily in 1990, as the patron saint of magistrates.
Milella’s objections revolve around the potential labeling of magistrates who support the proposal, the idea that Italian magistrates should remain free from religious affiliations, and the belief that magistrates should only align with the Constitution as a shared foundation.
An Indisputable Paradigm
The concept of magistrates voluntarily associating with this initiative being equated to profiling is unreasonable for several reasons. The profound story of Rosario Livatino, murdered by the mafia in , should serve as an indisputable paradigm for any Italian magistrate who values themselves and their office beyond bureaucratic roles, as individuals dedicated to the art of distinguishing right from wrong.
While legal faculties and judicial schools focus on the technicalities of law, the Italian judiciary could benefit from the moral, spiritual, and intellectual guidance that a Patron, especially a blessed figure like Livatino, could provide.
Ideologies and Religions
Milella’s comparison of ideological leanings with religious affiliations is flawed. There is a fundamental difference between ideologies, which mold reality, and religions, particularly Catholicism, which form the foundation of reality. Magistrates cannot easily abandon their ideological or religious backgrounds, as it would compromise their authenticity and constitutional rights.
The Constitution
The notion that magistrates should solely identify with the Constitution is misleading. The Constitution does not encompass the entirety of the legal system, and any attempts to restrict magistrates to this framework echo totalitarian regimes’ demands for absolute obedience and deny personal spirituality.
An Appropriate Idea
In conclusion, the proposal to honor Rosario Livatino as the patron saint of magistrates is not only fitting but essential to restoring credibility to the judiciary. By embracing Livatino’s legacy, magistrates can embody credibility beyond legal technicalities, aligning with a higher standard of justice and righteousness.
