Adnkronos Rome, April 26 (Adnkronos) – “Today a very important event was managed, a historic event, the figure of Pope Francis attracted many people, the greats of the world who wanted to pay homage to him and it was very challenging to guarantee an important security framework”. Thus the prefect of Rome Lamberto Giannini in an interview with Adnkronos after the funeral of Pope Francis.
"There was a greater turnout than expected: St. Peter's Square was packed, as was Via della Conciliazione and Piazza Pia and the surrounding streets, there were 250 people without less and it was estimated that there could be another 150 people along the route", he explains.
"The winning card was undoubtedly the great collaboration - he underlines - the contribution of the police, carabinieri, financial police, penitentiary, local police, firefighters was excellent in its work and the volunteers. And above all the fact that there were many summits with all the forces in the field, and having collaborated fully with the Civil Protection and as a team in perfect harmony with the Municipality and the Region. I also thank the Vatican Gendarmerie for the continuous, precise and punctual coordination".
"The balance is very positive and gives us the push to face the next events - he adds - Tomorrow will be a busy day and soon there will be a new committee because we are waiting for the Jubilee of the adolescents. We believe that the estimates of attendance, over 100 thousand, will be confirmed. And then there will be the opening of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore which will require special services because as we have seen today it has become a very important center of attraction".
We continue to work, Giannini specifies, "because in a few days the conclave for the election of the new pontiff will begin. These are events that require great attention, felt throughout the world but especially here in Rome, where there has always been great popular participation".
"There will be citizens who will wait for the election in the square but the peculiarity is that after the white smoke in a very short time people from all over the city will flock and therefore we will also have to prepare for these events that we should manage", explains the prefect of Rome.
Asked if he slept last night, Giannini replies with a smile: “I slept because before these days you need to be rested, you need serenity, getting agitated and worrying doesn’t help, and then I have to tell the truth: it was an event prepared with great care”.
What went worst? “I can’t think of anything, but the thing that went best was definitely the management of all the personalities. To get nearly 200 delegations into the Vatican in a short amount of time in a synchronized manner, convincing everyone to come in and leave large escorts nearby, required great organization and efficiency, so I thank the police headquarters and all the police forces.” “Thanks also to the firefighters who were always present and of great help in planning the events from a security point of view,” he continues.
As for the collaboration with the Civil Protection, Giannini underlined that in particular "it was a pleasure to meet again the prefect Ciciliano, a colleague with whom I had already worked in Italy and abroad for several years. Everything went well but on this I really had no doubts".
The city was sealed off by night but traffic was also carefully managed. “We can count on the local police, made up of many trained men and women with great experience in managing these major events,” he emphasizes. “This morning before 7, I was passing by the Vatican and there was a local police officer who was giving very precise instructions because a crowd of people had gathered. It is important to have these professionals who have been working together for many years. This is another added value that has allowed us to brilliantly overcome this test and gives us excellent hopes for the future.” (by Giorgia Sodaro)