In his address to the German Bundestag on the National Day of Mourning, President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella made a resolute appeal against war and the re-emergence of racism and violence. The Head of State spoke in front of delegates from German institutions about how the twentieth century, highlighted by the Holocaust and genocide, transformed conflicts into collective tragedies predominantly affecting civilian populations. "The image of war is no longer solely that of the combatant, but also that of the infant, the mother, and the vulnerable elderly. This is the current situation in Kiev and Gaza", stated by Mattarella, who urged us to learn from history and the profound significance of the phrase "Nie wieder", meaning "never again", which embodies both condemnation of atrocity and the aspiration for a peace grounded in justice. The President underscored the link between Italy and Germany in Holocaust memory and the European project, emphasizing that commemorating the victims entails taking tangible action against all forms of dominance and injustice. Today, he recalled, more than 90% of conflict victims are civilians: "War continues to strike, especially those who are not combatants". Condemning the war of aggression as a "crime", Mattarella invoked the principles of international law established in the postwar era through the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions. From Ukraine to the Gaza Strip, Rwanda to the Balkans, civilian protection is a duty that is all too often overlooked. In the concluding segment of his speech, the Head of State urged Europe to reaffirm its unity and coherence in response to emerging waves of bigotry, inequality, and violence. He stated that only through remembrance, cooperation, and the safeguarding of human rights can we prevent history "from repeating itself".