by InTrieste
Reservations have opened on Saturday morning for a commemorative Mass in early May honoring the victims of the 1976 earthquake that devastated Friuli Venezia Giulia, regional officials said.
The service, scheduled for May 3 in Gemona del Friuli, will be led by Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, and will include participation from the Archbishop of Udine, Monsignor Riccardo Lamba, along with representatives from dioceses that supported Friuli in the aftermath of the disaster.
Riccardo Riccardi, the regional councillor for civil protection, said that while attendance is free, advance booking is strongly recommended and required for security reasons. The reservation system, accessible through the TicketOne platform beginning at 10 a.m. on April 18, reflects protocols designed to manage what is expected to be a large turnout.
“This is a central and deeply symbolic moment,” Mr. Riccardi said, describing the ceremony as an अवसर for collective remembrance, prayer and recognition of the region’s long recovery.
The Friuli earthquake struck on May 6, 1976, killing nearly 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Fifty years later, the anniversary is being marked with a series of official events, including a special session of the regional council in the presence of Italy’s president and a concert by the tenor Andrea Bocelli on May 7.
Organizers are preparing for thousands of attendees in Gemona. Parking and shuttle services will be available, with reservations for those services expected to open in the coming days. The event will take place at the Goi Pantanali barracks, a site closely associated with both the destruction caused by the earthquake and the subsequent reconstruction. The area has recently undergone renovations to accommodate the commemorations.
The Mass will also be streamed live on the region’s official YouTube channel, allowing broader participation beyond those able to attend in person.
Additional details about the anniversary events are expected to be published in the coming days on official regional and diocesan websites.
