Militello, Sicily - With long applause and the sounds of "Cavalleria rusticana", Italy bid farewell to one of its greatest television stars. In Militello in the Val di Catania, almost 3,000 people paid their last respects to the legendary presenter Pippo Baudo on Wednesday. The funeral service in his home town became a demonstration of affection for a man who shaped the country's television history for decades.
After the coffin had been brought from Rome during the night, where thousands had already said their farewells in the Teatro delle Vittorie, the funeral took place in the church of Santa Maria della Stella. Many people followed the ceremony led by Bishop Calogero Peri on large screens in the square in front of the church.
"Success alone does not fill the heart"
At the heart of the funeral service was the very personal and moving sermon by Don Giuseppe Albanese, the presenter's spiritual father. He shared Baudo's last thoughts with the mourners. "Before his death, Pippo confided in me: 'Success alone is not enough to fill your heart and make you happy'," reported Don Albanese. In his last moments, Baudo had shown humility and the need for inner peace. The priest also paid tribute to the presenter's courage "against the mafia, an evil that must be eradicated". Above all, however, Baudo was remembered as a generous person who gave many artists a chance and was always willing to help without making a fuss.
A master without airs and graces
Numerous representatives from politics and society paid their last respects to Baudo, including Senate President Ignazio La Russa. He recalled how, as a nine-year-old boy in Sicily, he heard about the young, up-and-coming presenter Pippo Baudo for the first time. The mayor of Militello, Giovanni Burtone, praised Baudo as an innovative "worker" and master who had served the country with elegance. He called him the "Enrico Mattei of RAI" - a reference to the legendary industrialist - for his commitment, his cultural competence and his integrity, free of any airs and graces.
