Giovanni Spagnolli (26 October 1907 – 5 October 1984) was an Italian

Christian Democrat Christian democracy (sometimes named Centrist democracy) is a political ideology that emerged in 19th-century Europe under the influence of Catholic social teaching and neo-Calvinism. It was conceived as a combination of modern democratic ...

politician.

Biography

Early life and education

He was born on 26 October 1907 in Rovereto, a city in the Austro-Hungarian Tyrol at the time. He began his high school studies at the Imperial Regio Ginnasio in Rovereto. Refugee with his family (originally from Isera) in Dornbirn, in Vorarlberg during the Great War, he returned to his city after 1918, to complete his studies there until the end of high school. At 19, he chose Milan for the university, convinced that this "leap from the province" could benefit his future: he earned two degrees, and

Agostino Gemelli Agostino Gemelli (18 January 1878 – 15 July 1959) was an Italian Franciscan friar, physician and psychologist, who was also the founder and first Rector of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) of Mi ...

retained him as Administrative Deputy Secretary of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. The Feltrinelli Legnami company, with many contacts in Trentino, called him in turn as administrator. During the years of the

Resistance Resistance may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics * Either of two similarly named but otherwise unrelated comic book series, both published by Wildstorm: ** ''Resistance'' (comics), based on the video game of the same title ** ''T ...

, he worked in Brianza and Milan to shake consciences and organize the ranks of the new party of the Christian Democrats, of which he became the Milanese secretary. He collaborated from Rome in the reconstruction of Italy through

UNRRA United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was an international relief agency, largely dominated by the United States but representing 44 nations. Founded in November 1943, it was dissolved in September 1948. it became part o ...

-CAASAS plans to give new homes to millions of homeless.

Political career

From 1953 for 23 years he was a member of parliament in the Constituency of Rovereto. He was undersecretary of foreign trade from July 1958 to March 1960; Minister of the Merchant Marine from December 1963 to February 1966 and from June to December 1968. From February 1966 to June 1968 he was Minister of Post and Teleommunications. From 1973 to 1976 he held the position of President of the Senate (the first

Alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National Pa ...

in that position). He left his political life in 1976 to deal with the

Italian Alpine Club The Club Alpino Italiano is the senior Italian alpine club which stages climbing competitions, operates alpine huts, marks and maintains paths, and is active in protecting the Alpine environment. It was founded in Turin in 1863 by the then finan ...

, of which he was president from 1971 to 1980, and with the problems of international volunteering.

Death

He died of a stroke in 1984.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Spagnolli, Giovanni 1907 births 1984 deaths People from Trentino Christian Democracy (Italy) politicians Presidents of the Italian Senate Senators of Legislature II of Italy Senators of Legislature III of Italy Senators of Legislature IV of Italy Senators of Legislature V of Italy Senators of Legislature VI of Italy Politicians of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore alumni Italian resistance movement members