Building the concept of "citizenship" through a far-sighted project that is also based on learning the Italian language was called for in a message launched by President Sergio Mattarella on Monday, October 14, at an event held at the 'Immigrant orientation center - Foundation Franco Verga'.

The call came as an Italian ship was taking the first group of rescued asylum seekers to Italian-run hosting centers in Schengjin and Gjiader on Albanian territory.

There was nothing specifically new in the political message of the president, who has always spoken about solidarity and hosting, and the need to manage regular immigration well.

However, on October 14, his words sounded strong and clear at the Ambrosianeum Foundation in Milan: "The commitment towards social inclusion, hosting, progress, integration, the evolution of citizenship represent a permanent activity," he said in a speech in which he spoke about Italian emigrees from the poor south to the productive north.

Read AlsoItalian President praises EU Migration Pact

A history of emigration

"Italy's history is made of emigration and immigration," recalled the head of state. "Thirty million Italians moved abroad between the unification of Italy (1861) and the last century. Today, six million live abroad permanently. Over 1.3 million Italians moved from the south to the north in the 1960s. In 10 years - from 1951 until 1961 - 300,000 in Milan alone", he continued.

Symbolically, one of the Italian President's jobs is to bring unity to the country, both politically and socially. During his speech, Mattarella reminded those listening that there are "new views and other voices" today in our country. He underlined that immigrants in the more prosperous north of the country are no longer just from souther Italy, "but from afar, from European countries like Ukraine, attacked by a senseless war, and from the Balkans."

Immigrants today also arrive in desperation from "other continents, burdened by unsustainable conditions." The President said that many were carrying out "precious jobs" in Italy, and were working towards a common objective of solidarity, which is, he underlined, "part of the constitutional charter of Italy, and should "lay the basis for our cohabitation."

Read AlsoMattarella urges EU to overcome 'prehistoric' migrant rules

A faster route to citizenship?

Speaking in Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region, Mattarella said that "immigrants, for example in the capital of Lombardy, contributed to make history."

For this reason, Mattarella concluded with a call to find courage and inspiration from the demographic changes. "New arrivals mean a new social dynamic and participation."

The Catholic priest in charge of the Catholic charity Carita in the southern area of Milan used the spirit of the occasion to publicly call for a smoother path to citizenship for those who are contributing to Italian society. Father Massimo Mapelli stated "it is necessary to give citizenship to those who were born and grew up in Italy, there is no time to wait. We need to look these youths in the eye and make the path to citizenship faster for those arriving in our country."