Italian Priest Offers Defiant Gesture to Milan Rioters, Shelters Tourists
Father Giannicola Maria Simone confronted a mob of masked individuals during violent protests in Milan, later opening his church to those fleeing the unrest.
An Italian priest, Father Giannicola Maria Simone, offered a defiant middle finger to a group of rioters who passed by his church in Milan. The incident occurred on October 17 amidst violent protests that saw looting and vandalism in the city. Father Simone, 65, was standing at the entrance of the Church of Sant’Alessandro di Zebedia when the masked individuals approached.
A video of the encounter shows one of the rioters gesturing with their middle fingers towards the priest, who reciprocated the gesture. Simone later confirmed the authenticity of the video, telling Corriere Della Sera that he acted without violent intentions, describing the rioters as "kids."
"It happened like this: as these young people were walking by, someone gave me the middle finger. They’re kids, so I’m not surprised. I gave them the middle finger back, but without any violent intentions or the risk of sparking further anger," Simone stated.
As the unrest escalated, Father Simone opened the doors of his church to shelter tourists and passersby who were fleeing the violence. "I was in the church watching what was happening… then I saw them pushing forward and spreading out into the side streets, and I ran to close the church," he recounted. "There were lots of people fleeing the rioters, and I let them all in. They weren’t worshippers, but tourists and other passersby. They stayed here until the chaos passed."
Simone expressed that he did not believe repentance was necessary for his actions, emphasizing that he had not harmed anyone. He noted that some of the protesters seemed unsure of their purpose, with one telling him they came simply because others were there.
The protests in Milan and other northern Italian cities began as demonstrations against the rising cost of living and public services but evolved into widespread unrest. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence, attributing it in part to "hybrid warfare" tactics involving social media. In response, the government approved stricter security measures, including enhanced detention powers for minors and increased financial liability for parents of rioters. Additionally, 500 military troops are being deployed to Milan to aid in managing the situation.