Italy’s Former President Giorgio Napolitano Dies at 98

Former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, whose political career spanned over six decades, has passed away at the age of 98 in a Rome hospital, as announced by the Italian government on Friday.

Italian media reported on Friday evening that an official funeral will be held for the late president, who will also lie in state at the Senate.

The Secretary of the Council of Ministers, Alfredo Mantovano, declared a day of national mourning to coincide with the official funeral and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast, according to a statement issued by the ANSA news agency.

The Italian Football Federation also announced a minute of silence before all weekend matches.

The former Communist leader served as the President of Italy for over eight and a half years between 2006 and 2015, the longest period by any president.

After entering parliament for the first time in 1953, Napolitano became a lifetime senator after his presidency and remained politically active in the years that followed.

Napolitano was highly respected on the international stage. Due to his advanced age, he resigned before his term ended in January 2015 and spent the last years of his life in seclusion.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella expressed deep sorrow at Napolitano's passing, stating, "I am deeply saddened by the death of Napolitano, and on behalf of the Italian Republic, I extend the condolences of the entire nation to his family."