The town of Cortona pays tribute to Spartaco Lucarini

Politician, writer and journalist, Spartaco Lucarini was one of  the first married focolarini. On 3 July 2021, an escalator in the centre of his home town will be named after him and an event will take place in the theatre to recall his civic and political commitment. 

It has been said that Spartaco Lucarini’s soul was open to the whole of humanity but he was also closely linked to his own country and local area. He worked ceaselessly and with great courage and commitment to promote its social and cultural development. He was a journalist and writer, politician and man of culture. He was one of the first married focolarini and he was editor of the “Citta Nuova” magazine for several years, collaborating with the Movement’s international centre near Rome. He had moved there with his family from his home town of Cortona in Tuscany where he was born on 6 May 1924. In this town which is often considered to be a tresure chest of art, many people still remember him, especially for his social, political and civic commitment. Among other things, Spartaco founded the Tourist Board and made sure that Cortona was well known known not only in Italy  but also abroad.  He used  a variety of ways including his literary skills for which he received many awards. From a young age, he had been concerned with the problems of the area, mainly unemployment and precarious working conditions. “In spite of his professional commitments, he always followed  events in Cortona with great attention and affection,” Walter Checcarelli, president of the Cortona Christian Association, confirmed to the local newspaper “L’Etruria”. “At the beginning of the 1960s, he realised the great potential in the sale of antiques and founded the Antique Furniture Exhibition which, over time, became one of the most important nationwide. He made his contribution as a town councillor, becoming group leader of the Christian Democrat party with a style of openness and dialogue, unusual for those years of strong ideological opposition. Personally, I remember his holidays with his large family during the Easter period: his presence and prayer on Good Friday have remained indelibly impressed in my mind and heart.”

As a sign of gratitude for his political commitment as a town councillor, but also in recognition of his contribution as a builder of the area’s social culture, on 2 March 2021 the Cortona town council unanimously decided to name the escalators leading from the Spirito Santo car park to Piazza Garibaldi after him. The dedication ceremony will be held on 3 July 2021 during the Festival of Sacred Music at 10.30 a.m. (Italian time). Following this, an event in a the Teatro Signorelli in Cortona will commemorate this multifaceted figure and his contribution to the political and cultural scene of the 20th century.

The idea of paying homage to Spartaco had already been conceived last year and was to be included in the events marking the centenary of the birth of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement (1920-2020). Then the world health situation forced the postponement of the event dedicated to Lucarini. It was Chiara Lubich herself who asked Spartaco, his wife Iolanda Castellani (known as Lalla to everyone)  and the couple’s five children to move from Cortona to Rome to work at the international headquarters of the Focolare. Lucarini also contributed to the development of the “New Families” and “New Humanity” Movements of the Focolare. He always remained attached to Tuscany, and in addition to having contributed to the birth of the local community of the Movement, he also made an important contribution to the development of the little town of Loppiano near Incisa and Figline in Valdarno, Italy. In particular, his involvement led to the beginning  of the agricultural cooperative and the international school for families that are still based in the little town.

In April 1974 he was diagnosed with a very serious illness that led to his death at the age of 51. Even in his final days, Spartaco, although ill, returned to Cortona. “He always appeared serene,” recalled his wife Lalla, “but he was no longer what he used to be.” [i]

“I found myself completely changed,” wrote Spartaco, “I’m a very active person, I have a very dynamic temperament so I’ve always tried to give it my all; I’ve understood now that it’s not so important what you do, it’s also important to do nothing. I have discovered the value of ‘living inside’ rather than outside, because by ‘living within’ in a close relationship with God, you can reach the most distant people –  everyone in fact. By living projected outside, you can only reach the closest, you only reach people  around you. I think I have understood what is essential. In this century, Mary has created a Movement to help the Church, and she really wants to do so quickly, she wants to achieve unity not only among us Catholics, not only among the Churches, but  among all people. This is a programme that is greater and goes beyond any human programme.”[ii]

Lorenzo Russo

[i] Alfredo Zirondoli “Coraggio!” pub. Citta Nuova’ p 102

[ii] Alfredo Zirondoli “Coraggio!” pub. Citta Nuova’ p 96 – 97