Adriano Ossicini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adriano Ossicini
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| Minister for Family and Social Solidarity | |
| In office 17 January 1995 – 17 May 1996 |
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| Prime Minister | Lamberto Dini |
| Preceded by | Antonio Guidi |
| Succeeded by | Livia Turco (Social Solidarity) |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 5 June 1968 – 22 April 1992 |
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| In office 9 May 1996 – 29 May 2001 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1920 Rome, Italy |
| Died | 15 February 2019 (aged 98) Rome, Italy |
| Political party | SI (1968-1992) RI (1996-2001) DL (2002-2007) PD (2007-2019) |
| Occupation | Medic, University professor, politician |
Adriano Ossicini (born June 20, 1920 – died February 15, 2019) was an important Italian figure. He was a brave fighter against fascism, a politician, a doctor specializing in the mind (psychiatrist), and a university professor. He even served as the Minister for Family and Social Solidarity in the Italian government.
Contents
Who Was Adriano Ossicini?
Adriano Ossicini was born in Rome, Italy, on June 20, 1920. His life was full of important moments, from fighting for what was right to helping people as a doctor and serving his country in politics.
Early Life and Standing Up to Fascism
A Brave Student
Adriano's father, Cesare, was a lawyer and helped start the Italian People's Party. Adriano was a very smart student. He started studying medicine at the University of Rome when he was younger than most students. In 1937, he began volunteering at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Rome.
In 1938, at a meeting for Catholic students, Adriano spoke out against fascism. When he returned to Rome, the fascist police questioned him. They even started a file on him. Later that year, at another student meeting, he asked Italian Catholics to oppose racism and fascism. He said the government was working with Nazis.
Adriano was arrested by fascists in May 1943. He was held for over two months and beaten. But he only admitted that he disagreed with racism. He believed racism went against Christian teachings. During this time, he first heard the term "cattocomunista," which was a negative word for Catholics who leaned left in politics.
Helping Others During Wartime
During World War II, Adriano Ossicini worked at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital. He claimed the Pope asked the hospital to admit as many Jewish people as possible. To protect them from the Nazis and fascists, Ossicini said he helped create a fake disease called "syndrome K". This made the soldiers think the patients were very sick and contagious, so they wouldn't investigate. This clever trick helped save many lives.
Adriano also helped start the Party of the Christian Left. This party was close to the Italian Communist Party. However, it was later closed down in 1945. The Vatican's newspaper said that only the Christian Democracy party could represent Christians in politics.
After the War: A Doctor and Politician
Working as a Psychiatrist
Adriano finished his medical degree in 1944. He became a volunteer assistant at Fatebenefratelli Hospital. He then specialized in Psychiatry, which deals with nervous and mental illnesses. In 1947, he became a university professor of Psychology at the Sapienza University of Rome.
Serving in the Italian Government
In 1968, Adriano Ossicini returned to politics. He was elected to the Italian Senate. He was an independent candidate on the list of the Italian Communist Party. He was part of the group called the Independent Left, which worked closely with the Communist Party. He served in the Senate from 1968 to 1992.
From 1970 to 1989, he worked to create a law for the "Order of Psychologists." This law helped set rules for the profession of psychology. He also served as the Vice-President of the Senate from 1979 to 1983 and again from 1985 to 1987.
In 1995, he became the Minister for Family and Social Solidarity. He was part of the government led by Lamberto Dini. He joined Dini's Italian Renewal party. He was elected to the Senate one last time in 1996. He retired from the Senate in 2001. For the rest of his life, he supported the Democratic Party.
