Milan mourns founder of Exodus community, Don Antonio Mazzi

Milan held a citywide mourning ceremony for Don Antonio Mazzi, the 96‑year‑old priest who founded the Exodus community. The funeral took place on 3 August at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, drawing collaborators, volunteers, former community members, institutional representatives and ordinary citizens. The municipal government declared a day of mourning, lowering flags to half‑mast.

The ceremony featured a long applause as the coffin entered, a simple wooden casket adorned with a sunflower, and tributes from groups such as the band Pooh and the Curva Sud Milan supporters. Don Massimiliano Parrella delivered the homily, recalling Don Mazzi’s signature greeting “ciao” as a symbol of unconditional welcome for the marginalized, prisoners, and those battling addiction. Attendees received a copy of his “prayer of the hello,” urging continuation of his work.