On the occasion of the European Day of the Righteous, celebrated annually on 6 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Gariwo Foundation announce the appointment of five new “Righteous of the Farnesina”.
A dedicated Commission within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is responsible for identifying diplomats who have carried out extraordinary humanitarian actions, saving lives during critical moments in recent history.
The newly appointed “Righteous of the Farnesina” are: Francesco Babuscio Rizzo, Piero De Masi, Giorgio Giacomelli, Vito Positano, and Tito Spoglia, joining the first nine honourees named in 2024.
Ambassador Francesco Babuscio Rizzo distinguished himself during the turbulent period between the two World Wars. As Chargé d’Affaires to the Holy See between 1943 and 1944, he worked alongside Vatican authorities to save hundreds of exiles and persecuted individuals during the Nazi-Fascist occupation of Rome.
Minister Plenipotentiary Piero De Masi, renowned for his intervention in Santiago, Chile, in 1973, transformed the Italian Embassy into a safe haven, bravely sheltering political opponents and ordinary Chilean citizens.
Ambassador Giorgio Giacomelli played a pivotal role during the 1964 crisis in the Congo, swiftly organising rescue missions to save numerous lives at risk.
Consul Vito Positano was a key figure during the 1877 war of liberation from Ottoman rule in Sofia. Facing the threat of looting and destruction, he guided the local population to safety, earning widespread recognition and honours from the city.
Vice Consul Tito Spoglia demonstrated exceptional heroism in 1960, during an uprising in the Congo, sacrificing his own life in an attempt to rescue Italian nationals and colleagues.
These five figures will now be commemorated in the “Garden of the Righteous of the Farnesina”, established in 2024 as a result of collaboration between the Gariwo Foundation—which is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Righteous of Humanity and has created over 300 Gardens of the Righteous worldwide—the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Roma Capitale. The Garden is located directly in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, along the Viale dei Giusti della Farnesina.
With the appointment of these new “Righteous of the Farnesina”, today’s celebration of 6 March, the anniversary of the Day of the Righteous of Humanity—a national civil solemnity in Italy since 2017—honours not only these distinguished diplomats but also the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to defending human rights and dignity, values essential in fostering a more responsible, tolerant, and compassionate world.
