ROME – Thirty years ago today, a young Italian priest was gunned down by a mafia hitman as he was preparing to say Mass, thereby giving his life for his people. 

In itself, perhaps, there’s nothing especially unique about that, since scores of Christian martyrs of all eras, both clergy and lay, have done exactly the same thing.

Yet at the same time, perhaps most importantly, many Italians say they no longer feel afraid to speak out when they perceived corruption or criminality, following Diana’s lead of not remaining silent, and his preaching about a “new consciousness marked by justice”.