In the wonderful location of the Salesian Pontifical University, was held the meeting “Communicating legality in the era of systemic corruption” in February. The first of a series of meetings focused on "A path of legality and responsibility" against mafias, in favor of commitment and responsibility. We arrive punctually in the Paul VI room, we sit in this large and welcoming space that will host us for the afternoon. The classroom is full of people: there are university students, families, university professors, religious, and also a representation of ANPCI (National Association of Small Municipalities of Italy). The meeting is moderated by the journalist and teacher Vittorio Sammarco, Sergio De Caprio "Captain Last" Colonel of the Carabinieri who in 1993 arrested the boss of the mafia Salvatore Riina and the professor of political philosophy Rocco D'Ambrosio.

The event is part of a course proposed by the Faculty of Social Communication Sciences, organized by the famous association Libera to deepen the concept of corruption and the stories of the mafia today. Vittorio Sammarco begins by introducing the two important guests present there and leaves the word to the rector of the university, professor Don Mauro Mantovani, who tells us about this important project and invites us to the series of meetings that will be held.

The debate is articulated as a TV talk show: dynamic, fresh, keeping the attention based on the back-and-forth. Sammarco quotes the phrase of an author chosen by him that connects to a broader discourse and asks a question to one of the two guests: Captain Ultimo or to Professor D'Ambrosio. The authors cited are many; from great writers to prominent names such as Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone. They touch topics that strike us directly in the depths, they light our minds and put us in a position to think and reflect on the malaise of Italy. Corruption, for example, is the inherent evil of our country. Professor D'Ambrosio explains that this can easily infect our daily actions:

Corruption is bad pneumonia and the maximum manifestation of the disease, while the small acts of disloyalty and impropriety of which we are victims or protagonists are small colds within our society; certainly passengers and unimportant but that potentially can turn into illness.

The debate continues and Captain Ultimo urges us to take care of our country:

“Because it is ours, our grandparents walked there and therefore we must put it in a position to express its talent and its potential, for what it is, and not for what we would like. The importance of mutual aid, practicing brotherhood, and of opposing it to domination is underlined. That’s what makes us modern, real, civilized people. This is the greatest teaching given to us by Christianity itself: to help our neighbouneighborcreate a united and ready community”.

Sergio De Caprio known as Captain Ultimo, on January 15th 1993 was the ultimate exponent of the concept of mutual aid, helping the entire country. Together with his CRIMOR investigation team, he arrested Mafia boss Totò Riina who had been in hiding for 24 years. Risking his life, taking the threats of the bad guys and the envy of the mediocre. For twenty-six years he has been forced to hide his face behind a balaclava, enduring an existence always in danger. His experience reminds us of the sacrifices that the Armed Forces make and the obligation to live for decades on the margins seeing massacres and victims.

The exchange of views continues animatedly and the last deep reflection is given to us by a quote from Paolo Borsellino: “talk about the mafia. Talk about it on the radio, on television, in newspapers. But talk about it”.

What the speakers focus on in the last part of the speech is precisely this, explain what the Mafia is, why it is inherent in Italy and why it has now become part of our cultural fabric. We must talk about the victims he has made, about the various types of mafia that exist in our society and educate since childhood to fight it with the "flu forms" related to it.

D'Ambrosio reminds us how many times Italy has fallen, how many dramatic moments it has lived, and how many times the Italian society has managed to get up again, persisting in this battle, thanks to prominent people who every day in their small, contributed to this civilian army. The afternoon ends and among the thanks is invited on stage the Regional Manager of Lazio ANPCI, which gives us an interesting overview of the role of small municipalities in the fight against the mafia and the importance of enhancing these issues in these meetings. The work of a small ant (a small common) can sometimes be larger and more consolidated than the work of a large anthill.