The Breach of Porta Pia

On the 20th September we commemorate the so-called Breach of Porta Pia.
It was on this very day back in 1870, that through an artillery opened breach in the wall, a dozen metres to the west of the Roman gate - known as Porta Pia - that the Italian Bersaglieri soldiers led by Raffaele Cadorna marched down Via Pia, having defeated Pope Pius IXth's papal troops.
Rome subsequently assumed the Italian capital city status from Florence, and Via Pia was renamed Via XX Settembre.
Central to the 140 anniversary celebrations, are the symbolic fortified gates at Porta Pia, which featured in a light show as part of the celebrations. Equally symbolic was the presence at the ceremonies of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State when he visited the Bersagllieri Museum alongside Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and the mayor of Rome. This is the first time that the Vatican has joined the Italian State in a ceremony that marks the defeat of the papacy's temoral power by the victorious new nation state of Italy. During his speech at the ceremony, Cardinal Bertone spoke of the renewed harmony there is today betwenn civil and church communities and of their shared goal in building the common good...
"...possiamo riconoscere che nel reciproco rispetto..."
But right now, highlighting the role of Pope pius IXth, I we bring you a taste of that historic moment in a programme written by Jill Bevilacqua, who takes us on a journey back in time...

"...at two minutes past ten, the Pope was approached by his Secretary of State, Cardinal Antonelli, who whispered something in his ear. The Pope's eyes were seen to fill with tears. He said goodbye to his guests and withdrew..."

listen...