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President Mattarella Honors Italian Citizens for Public Service

Free News Reader  ·  August 6, 2026

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President Mattarella Honors Italian Citizens for Public Service

  • On February 1, 2025, Italian President Sergio Mattarella conferred 31 honors of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic to citizens who have demonstrated exceptional civil commitment and dedication to the common good.
  • The awards recognized individuals for their contributions in various fields, including promoting dialogue between peoples, combating gender violence, ethical entrepreneurship, and active engagement despite disabilities.

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President Sergio Mattarella awarded 31 special honors of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (OMRI) on February 1, 2025. The OMRI is Italy’s highest-ranking order of merit, established in 1951, and is awarded for “merit acquired by the nation” in areas such as science, literature, arts, economy, public service, and humanitarian activities.

The recipients were recognized for their dedication to the common good and republican values. Specific categories of distinction included fostering dialogue between different cultures, working to prevent gender-based violence, promoting ethical business practices, and demonstrating active commitment even with disabilities. Other honorees were acknowledged for aiding incarcerated individuals, embodying solidarity, choosing a life of volunteerism, and contributing to social inclusion and the right to health, as well as for acts of heroism.

Among those honored were Giovanni Arras and Giuseppina Sgandurra, recognized as Knights of the Order for their support of research. Chiara Ciavatta received the same honor for assisting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Carmine Falanga was also named a Knight for his work in fostering collaboration between prisons and businesses. The awards ceremony took place at the Quirinale Palace.