Mattarella honours Finnish divers from Maldives operation

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has conferred, motu proprio, the honour of Merit of the Italian Republic on the three Finnish divers, Sami Paakkarinen, Jenni Westerlund and Patrik Grönqvist, who distinguished themselves in the operations to recover the bodies of the Italian divers who lost their lives during a dive in the waters off the Maldives islands. The honours came on the very day of the funerals of the two divers.

Around two thousand people attended the funeral of Monica Montefalcone and her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, the two divers who died in the Maldives on 14 May, in the church of San Francesco in Pegli. Most of those present were residents of the western district where the two lived together with Giorgio Sommacal, Monica's husband and Giorgia's father, and Matteo, their youngest son. Friends and colleagues of Monica Montefalcone and her daughter were also present. Among the authorities present were the deputy mayor of Genoa Alessandro Terrile, the president of the municipal council Claudia Villa and municipal councillor Paola Bordilli. Also present was the university rector Federico Delfino.

Don Pierino Cattaneo, former parish priest of San Francesco, opened the service, recalling Monica and Giorgia and the family's faith. 'I met Monica and Carlo in the preparation for the wedding I celebrated on 19 December 2004,' said Don Pierino. 'I can say that the celebration of Christian marriage, for Monica, was an authentic conversion, the beginning of the journey in the maturation of faith, in the commitment of Christian life'. The pastor recalled the tattoo on Monica's arm: 'If I had to walk through a dark valley I would fear no evil because you are with me'. "Prophecy? Destiny? In this phrase there is unconditional faith, that gentleman they loved came to take her to that sea where she sought him hidden in the submerged beauty and together with Giorgia he took them by the hand and led them up there".