Luigi Ciotti
Encyclopedia
Luigi Ciotti, born in Pieve di Cadore
(province of Belluno
) on September 10, 1945, is an Italian priest belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Turin
, deeply involved in the fight against illegality and organized crime such as Mafia
.
in 1950. He was ordained priest in 1972 by Cardinal Michele Pellegrino, who assigned him to the “parish” of the streets of Turin.
Ciotti's involvement with social work started in 1966, when he organized the Gruppo Abele (Abel's Group), dedicated to follow cases inside the Juvenile Detention Centers, and help the victims of drugs. Sixteen years later, in 1982, he promoted the foundation of CNCA, the national network of organizations dedicated to charitable hospitality. In 1987 he was appointed the first president of the Italian League against AIDS
(LILA
), founded by Franco Grillini and friends in 1986. On March 25, 1995 he started the association Libera (Free), in charge of coordinating the effort of various Italian organizations against organized crime.
and public education
. In February 1993 he published the first issue of the monthly magazine Narcomafie (Narcotics Mafias). He has authored a few books dealing with educational and social problems, such as Genitori, figli e droga (Parents, Children and Drugs), written in collaboration with Vaccaro, and Chi ha paura delle mele marce, (Who is afraid of the Rotten Apples).
in Education
by the University of Bologna
. He has considered this honor a recognition for the hard work of all the people of the Gruppo Abele along the years. He is also the recipient of the Cavaliere di Gran Croce (Cavalier of the Great Cross) award, by the Italian Government.
On June 23, 2007, he received the "Premio speciale San Bernardo" (Special Prize St. Bernard) for his endeavors to solve social problems
.
Pieve di Cadore
Pieve di Cadore is a comune in the province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about 110 km north of Venice and about 35 km northeast of Belluno.The painter Titian was born here, c. 1485...
(province of Belluno
Belluno
Belluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area...
) on September 10, 1945, is an Italian priest belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Turin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Turin
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Turin is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. Founded in the 4th century and elevated to the dignity of an archdiocese on 21 May 1515, by Pope Leo X. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist...
, deeply involved in the fight against illegality and organized crime such as Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
.
Biography
Luigi Ciotti emigrated with his family to TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
in 1950. He was ordained priest in 1972 by Cardinal Michele Pellegrino, who assigned him to the “parish” of the streets of Turin.
Ciotti's involvement with social work started in 1966, when he organized the Gruppo Abele (Abel's Group), dedicated to follow cases inside the Juvenile Detention Centers, and help the victims of drugs. Sixteen years later, in 1982, he promoted the foundation of CNCA, the national network of organizations dedicated to charitable hospitality. In 1987 he was appointed the first president of the Italian League against AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
(LILA
Lila
Lila , or Leela is a concept within Hinduism literally meaning "pastime", "sport" or "play". It is common to both non-dualistic and dualistic philosophical schools, but has a markedly different significance in each. Within non-dualism, Lila is a way of describing all reality, including the cosmos,...
), founded by Franco Grillini and friends in 1986. On March 25, 1995 he started the association Libera (Free), in charge of coordinating the effort of various Italian organizations against organized crime.
Publications
Ciotti is a well-known national author and publisher in the religious and educational fields. In 1988 he started to write for newspapers and specialized magazines dealing with social workSocial work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
and public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
. In February 1993 he published the first issue of the monthly magazine Narcomafie (Narcotics Mafias). He has authored a few books dealing with educational and social problems, such as Genitori, figli e droga (Parents, Children and Drugs), written in collaboration with Vaccaro, and Chi ha paura delle mele marce, (Who is afraid of the Rotten Apples).
Honors
On July 1, 1998, Ciotti has received the Honorary DegreeHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
by the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
. He has considered this honor a recognition for the hard work of all the people of the Gruppo Abele along the years. He is also the recipient of the Cavaliere di Gran Croce (Cavalier of the Great Cross) award, by the Italian Government.
On June 23, 2007, he received the "Premio speciale San Bernardo" (Special Prize St. Bernard) for his endeavors to solve social problems
Social problems
Social problems are problems and difficulties that people often face in society. These include:*crime*corruption*poverty*homelessness*hunger*disease*drug addiction*alcoholism*schizophrenia*depression*pollution...
.
Media
External links
- Luigi Ciotti - Enciclopedia Multimediale delle Scienze Filosofiche (Multimedia Encyclopedia of Philosophical Sciences)
- Associazione Gruppo Abele Onlus
- Narcomafie (Narcotics Mafias)