Giorgio gave away the deputy's coat

FLORENCE, reputed to be the richest city in Italy, has elected as its mayor Giorgio la Pica, who is often described as the poorest man in Italy.
La Pira, who lives in a monastery and distributes his salary to the poor, won a Parliamentary seat in the Communists' stronghold after beginning each of his
speeches with the sign of the Cross.
At the university he teaches History of Roman law.
He gives to the monastery all his pay from the university, royalties on his books, his pay as a Deputy, and his salary as a mayor.
He never has had an overcoat or a raincoat.
Sgr. De Gasperi sent him three ties as a birthday present. A week later he was seen again in an open shirt. "I gave them to some poveretti (little poor) who liked them," he said.
DON'T WORRY In Rome a Deputy saw him going out under pouring rain and gave him his raincoat, One hour later La Pira was back, soaked to the bone. " I gave the raincoat to a poor old man who didn't have one." he apologised to the Deputy.
"But it was mine, the Deputy said.
"Don't worry," La Pira said, "You can buy another one."
One of his last speeches in the recent mayoral elections caused a fist fight between Communists and Christian Democrats. It started when two Communists booed the end of La Pira's speech when he said: "Now let's pray for the protection of Our Lady for the city."
Riot police intervened, and took to police headquarters the two Communists who looked the most badly off. La Pira asked for their release.
" They had no intention to do any
harm," he pleaded with the police chief. "Let them go back to their families."
The police chief told him that would be done the next day. La Pira answered: " I will wait here for their release." Two hours later he walked the two unhappy youths home.