It was the initials of the Maurizio Costanzo Showto accompany the applause of the hundreds of people in Piazza del Popolo, who also joined Maria De Filippi next to his son Gabriele, the exit of Maurizio Costanzo’s coffin from the Church of the artists, where the solemn funeral of the journalist who died at the age of 84 on February 24 in Rome was celebrated. The basilica was packed with dozens of protagonists from the world of journalism, politics and entertainment, from Pier Silvio Berlusconi, seated in the front row next to Maria De Filippi, to Paolo Sorrentino, from Gerry Scotti, who read the Prayer of the Artists to Sabrina Ferilli. Together, among others, with the Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano, the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, Fedele Confalonieri, the CEO of Rai Carlo Fuortes, Fiorella Mannoia, Christian De Sica, Lorella Cuccarini, Vittorio Sgarbi, Marianna Madia, Luca Di Montezemolo, Giancarlo Giannini, Mara Venier, Enrico Mentana, Giorgio Gori with his wife Cristina Parodi, Carlo Conti, Alessia Marcuzzi, Amadeus, Aurelio De Laurentiis, Giorgio Panariello, Ermal Meta, Milly Carlucci, Rita Dalla Chiesa, Luxuria, Carmen Russo and Enzo Paolo Turchi, Gabriel Garko, Alessandra Celentano, Antonio Giuliani, Enrico Brignano, Kledi, talents launched by Amici such as Michele Bravi and Valerio Scanu, Paolo Bonolis with Sonia Bruganelli, Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Lele Mora, Fabrizio Corona and a large number of tronistas and tronistas in charged or passed. «You didn’t have three children, but many, many more – Camilla Costanzo says in her memory, who also spoke on behalf of the brothers Saverio and Gabriele -. You changed destinies, intuited talents, encouraged and spurred. We consoled people in tears, more astonished than us to know that you were gone. To us children you leave an important legacy and your greatest teaching, humility”. Now “we imagine you in Heaven, while you organize a talk show” and “you will continue to live in all of us”.
Don Walter Insero, in his homily, defines the journalist, whom he got to know and frequent, as «a very intelligent, extremely curious man, always inclined to look for new things, to discover, he couldn’t sit still, he was very active, even in the last few days in the clinic». He was a man «humble, loyal, he kept his word and respected the opinions of others, without judging differences, inclined to understand the reasons of others. He tended to be lazy, he loved Rome» and then «he was very greedy, I know that dark chocolate was secretly passed on to him», he underlines, while Maria De Filippi (welcomed like her husband at the entrance to the church by long applause, ed) mentions a smile. The rector of the Basilica Santa Maria in Montesanto in Piazza del Popolo also dwells on his relationship with his family: with his children, it was one of love, with Mary also of “tenderness, esteem and complicity”; he then talks about the journalist’s love for animals, such as the cat Filippo, of which there was also a photo on the coffin. «Maurizio was a friend, a collaborator but also like a father – says Pier Silvio Berlusconi as he leaves the Chiesa degli Artisti -. He is a piece of history of television but also of our country. I loved him with my heart.” Fiorella Mannoia underlines that «we all passed through his living room. And the risks that Maurizio ran in his commitment against the mafia must also be remembered. I think it’s a must to be here.” A battle, that of the journalist, also evoked in the square by a gentleman who shows a T-shirt with the words ‘Mafia made in Italy like the one to which the conductor had set fire to in an episode of the Costanzo show. There was also a lot of gratitude for him among the people who were able to follow the funeral from the big screen: «I came from Ascoli Piceno on purpose together with my daughter Giulia for a last farewell – says Barbara -, He gave me back my life. 23 years ago I suffered from panic attacks and following his broadcast every evening, I met Professor Cassano (luminary of psychiatry, ed). At that time I had terrible thoughts, but I went to that doctor and thanks to his help I overcame that situation. then I also had Giulia, who is 21 today ». A last farewell for the journalist also arrives at the Parioli theater, in front of which, before concluding at the Verano Cemetery, the funeral procession paused for a minute of silence which was then broken by the applause of the people.
