Sergio Mattarella underlined this at the University of Trieste where he was awarded an Honorary Master's Degree in Law. Head of state recalled that universities have always been free to express "dissent" against power.
Mattarella invited them to "not sever" connections and reflections with other universities outside Italy even in the presence of "conflicts between states" Universities have "always been places of free debate and criticism", added the head of state. Mattarella therefore invited us to pay attention, doing everything possible not to help "the power, the worst one, which has always tried to keep the universities of its own isolated country, to prevent its connection with those across the border". The "debate, criticism and dissent are connected between the Universities of all countries, across borders and across conflicts between states", said the President of the Italian Senate, Sergio Mattarella, in a speech to students. The speech was delivered at the University of Trieste, where Mattarella was awarded a Honorary Master's Degree.