Appointed Archbishop of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marisco Nuovo on February 2, Monsignor Davide Carbonaro, fifty-seven years old, made his entrance into the capital, as head of the local church, on May 18. He found himself in Potenza, practically, in the middle of the celebrations for the Patron Saint and the heated electoral campaign for the municipal elections. What they say, a baptism of fire. d- How do you justify your existence? r - In a very simple, but profound way: I feel loved. I have been and still am. I was very much loved by my parents in the context of a southern family, very simple, coming from Sicily and I understood, growing up, that that was the reflection of a much greater love. That of God. d- What did your family do? r - We are from Val di Noto, mother originally from Rosolini, father from Ispica. Mother was a housewife and father was a craftsman, a carpenter. d- In the sense that love and faith “saved” her. r - I could have lost myself like any other boy, as unfortunately happened to some of my friends. d- When did you understand that you would be a priest in your life? r - Well, already when I was very little: as a person from the South, I lived in the heart of popular devotion. d- Was your dad a communist? r - No, he wasn't a communist, but he was a big anti-clerical and this misfortune happened to him in his life (laughter). Dad was the classic Sicilian of the 1940s, raised in a somewhat anti-clerical environment. d- You told us about an environment typical of neighborhood parishes of a few decades ago, which formed you; I recently interviewed the historic parish priest of Tito (Pz), r - From my point of view, the church has changed for the better, dialoguing with Modernity; I, as well as my brothers, r - It depends. It's an effect of secularization. This hemorrhage is especially visible in Northern Italy. In Northern Europe there has been a detachment between faith and life. Modernity and post-modernity have led to this sort of “autonomy”, which puts faith aside. . d- You arrived in the city in the midst of the celebrations for the Patron Saint, receiving a particularly warm embrace. However, when they told you that you had to go to Potenza, what did you think? r - When they told me, geographically I didn’t even know where it was! (laughs) d- A classic. r - In fact, I think you’ve already heard it. d- Beyond the “official protocol”, what did your predecessor, Ligorio, tell you? r - He and the other bishops gave me a narrative, as happens in every other reality, of the riches and poverty of this church. d- Potenza is the regional capital in a land where poverty seems to be growing: how can poverty influence the pastoral path of an Archbishop? r - Mmm, I would talk about poverty and wealth together. r - First of all, dialogue, a word I prefer to “criticism”. And then, the pastor is always a father to everyone, and a father, every now and then, goes to his children to ask for an account of the state of things. And I think I should also put myself from this point of view. d- You mentioned the Madonna of Viggiano, you know well that politicians, every time, are always there, on the catwalk, sitting in the front row. A tug of the ear, maybe every now and then... r - (Smiles). If necessary, this too, but always in fraternal dialogue, and always in the adult dimension, of people at the service of the people. The spirit illuminates the flesh and the flesh gives value and strength to the spirit. d- In about fifteen days Potenza will choose its next mayor. What will you tell him? r - “Courage, let's move forward!”. We must love this city of ours and the people who live in it. d- Is there something that scares you, at the beginning of this pastoral journey in a city like Potenza? r - Yes, I'm scared of not knowing many realities. d- Will you travel a lot? r - I'm already doing it, both within the city and in the hinterland. d- I had the opportunity to attend one of your confirmation celebrations, last Saturday in Potenza, and at a certain point you spoke about the devil. r - Yes, yes. Saint Paul VI spoke of the devil's "personal dimension", and evil has its influence. d- The book that represents you? r - Mamma mia! (laughs). "The Name of the Rose", by Umberto Eco. I love the medieval world and here there are absolutely extraordinary places, like the cathedral of Acerenza. d- The song? r - I Pooh, the one that goes "Ci sono uomini soli...per la sete di avventura", and perhaps it's an adventure that the Lord is asking me to experience. An extraordinary thing. d- The film? r - Bah, I could say... "Top Gun". d- You are one of the Eighties, you said so before. r - Rightly so. d- In a hundred years they will unveil a plaque in your name here in the Archdiocese: what would you like to be written there? I don't know... "Here lies that bishop who never keeps quiet" (smiles). Who does not keep quiet above all for the Truth and for the Gospel. by Walter De Stradis