An Italian priest has attracted widespread attention after footage showed him raising his middle finger at a young protester during unrest in Milan.
Father Giannicola Maria Simone, 65, who serves at the Church of Saint Alexander of Zebedia in central Milan, was filmed standing outside the historic church when a masked and hooded young man appeared to swear at him.
The footage showed the priest responding with the same offensive gesture, without making physical contact with the demonstrator.
The incident occurred last weekend as protests and violence spread across Italy amid unrest that was reported to have been inspired by riots in France.
Priest Says He Sheltered Passersby During the Unrest
Speaking to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Father Simone said he had allowed people seeking safety to enter the church while the disturbances continued.
He explained that those who came inside were not necessarily worshippers but included tourists and other people passing through the area.
“They weren’t worshippers, but tourists and other passersby. They stayed here until the chaos passed,” he said.
The priest said the gesture came after a young person raised a middle finger at him. He described the individuals involved as young people and said he did not believe his response was intended to provoke violence.
“As these young people were walking by, someone gave me the middle finger. They’re kids, so I’m not surprised. I gave them the middle finger back, but without any violent intentions or the risk of sparking further anger,” he told the newspaper.
Father Simone Rejects Calls for Repentance
Asked whether he regretted making the gesture, Father Simone said he did not believe repentance was appropriate in the circumstances.
“No, I don’t think we should talk about repentance. If I had thrown a punch, yes, but I’ve never raised my hand to anyone, not even in the most difficult moments,” he said.
The priest also explained that he had attempted to speak with the young demonstrators to understand their motivations.
He said their responses were vague, with some indicating that they had joined the gathering because other people were attending.
“I tried to chat with them, I wanted to understand what was on their minds, but their answers were very vague. They said, ‘We don’t know why we’re here, everyone came, so I came too’,” he said.
Truckers’ Protests Disrupt Food Deliveries Across Italy
The incident took place amid wider unrest linked to economic pressures, including demonstrations by Italian truck drivers protesting fuel prices and the rising cost of living.
On Wednesday, retailers warned that the protests, which began in southern Italy the previous week, were disrupting food deliveries and leaving fresh produce to deteriorate.
The demonstrations also affected operations at at least two regional airports in Calabria because deliveries of aviation fuel had been disrupted.
Traffic congestion was reported in several parts of the country. Long queues formed on the A1 motorway near Naples after truck drivers restricted access, while trucks and tractors entered the central square in Ravenna in northeastern Italy as farmers joined the protests.
Retailers Warn of Shortages and Wasted Food
The ANCD-Conad group, which represents retailers operating under the Conad supermarket brand, said large quantities of perishable goods were stranded in trucks and warehouses.
The affected products included fruit, vegetables, milk and meat, raising concerns about shortages and food waste.
Group president Maurizio Pelliconi said the right to protest should not prevent citizens from receiving essential supplies.
“The freedom to protest cannot translate into undermining citizens’ right to receive fresh food or destroying the value created by Italy’s agri-food supply chains,” Pelliconi said.
Meloni Government Prepares Support for Truck Drivers and Farmers
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said her cabinet planned to meet on Thursday to approve a package combining support measures for truck drivers and farmers.
The government has allocated approximately €1 billion (£840 million) this year to help truck drivers manage rising fuel costs and replace older vehicles with less-polluting models.
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Edoardo Rixi called for the demonstrations to end, warning that the disruption was also affecting supplies to hospitals.
He said the government could take a tougher approach towards hauliers if the protests continued to involve unlawful activity.
“If someone is breaking the law, then at a certain point the law must be enforced,” Rixi told reporters.
Government Introduces New Security Measures After Milan Riots
Tensions over the cost of living have also been accompanied by episodes of urban violence. During the weekend, groups made up largely of young people went on the rampage in Milan and other northern Italian cities.
Police carried out detentions and arrests during the unrest, with clashes reported between demonstrators and anti-riot officers.
In response, the government introduced a new security decree on Tuesday targeting offenders under the age of 18.
The measures followed demonstrations against the high cost of living and broader tensions surrounding Italy’s economic difficulties.
