Publishing Houses Key to Safeguarding Democracy and Culture, Says Mattarella

Rome: President Sergio Mattarella emphasized the vital role of publishing houses in defending freedom and promoting culture and rights, highlighting their importance to Italy’s democracy during a meeting with the Italian Association of Publishers on Tuesday.

According to Ansa News Agency, President Mattarella pointed out the significant presence of over 5,000 publishing houses, both large and small, across the country. He stated that despite their diversity, these publishers share a common mission as bastions of freedom, contributing to the promotion of culture and rights-elements he deemed essential to the nation’s democratic framework.

Mattarella highlighted the impressive output of the publishing industry, with over 70,000 new titles released annually and 160 million books purchased each year. He expressed hope for an increase in these figures, noting the current regional disparities in book consumption across Italy and stressing the need to overcome them.

Emphasizing the crucial role of books for the younger generation, Mattarella warned against the “sterilization of thoughts,” underscoring the importance of books as catalysts for intellectual stimulation. He argued that a well-developed capacity for thought is necessary to effectively manage and guide the use of artificial intelligence tools, cautioning that without thoughtful engagement, the dynamic between human intellect and AI could become imbalanced.