Emanuela Orlandi and the journey to Luxembourg of the super-policyman Nicola Cavaliere. « They told us: it's in a convent, let's go get it »

There is a episodein the infinite History of Emanuela Orlandiwhich summarizes with tragic effectiveness almost 42 years Of expectedhopes and disillusions suffered by the family members of the « girl with the band ». Peppangesmall village in the south of Luxembourg. Last census: 928 inhabitants. Local attraction: A majestic Benedictine convent. It is here that, in 1993, Mamma Maria, Dad Hercules and his brother Pietro they turned with the heart in the throat, sure you have finally found Emanuelaafter having reassured that the girl had been « exiled » in that monastery in neo -Gothic style. The recognition, however, failed. Burning disappointmentthat today come back on topicality with the convocation by the parliamentary commission of inquiry Of Nicola Cavaliereat the time head of the murders section of the Rome Police Headquarters, later ascended to the police and secret services. The hearing of Cavaliere is set for Thursday 13 March 2025, at 13:30. Inevitable we return to talk about the remote Luxembourg trip, especially for the doubts who arose.

The confidential source, 10 years later

It was the July 1993ten years and a month after Emanuela's death. The judicial investigation at that juncture had recorded a surge following the involvement of Raoul BonarelliThe Vatican gendarmerie official who lived near Mirella Gregori's house, the other fifteen year old disappeared. In a context that brought up environments of the Holy See, So, the new track sprouted: one confidential source of the lawyer Gennaro Egidiolegal both of the Orlandi and the Gregors (Here that's why the cases are connected), he said that Emanuela had been irritated, sedated and transferred In a convent in Luxembourg, where, immemorial of the previous life, she had become novice. The source, such Frank Dobonwas considered reliable. The indication It was precise: you can find it in cloistered monastery of Peppange, in the canton of Esch-sur-alzette, almost on the border with France.

The story

The confidant provided some White and white photographs who portrayed a young dressed in dark, with a dress that could be one nunand the hair gathered behind. In the background a wooden steps, perhaps of a church. The alleged Emanuela was sitting next to an organas about to start playing. «We thought about music, his passion. The face was that. Build and posture too. We turned the photos for a long time between our fingers, we examined every detail. It's not that she seemed to be: it was her. One had to leave », is the detailed story made by Pietro Orlandi, years ago, to the author of this article.

« I was to buy air tickets »

Not only that. To strengthen the expectations of the family was added the fact that both the prosecutor and the investigators led by « Nick » Knight took the imbeccade very seriously. « The enthusiasm that transpired by the investigators was almost equal to ours – continues the story of Pietro – I was organizing the journey, in the grip of a heart attack. Courses in the agency and I took three ticketsmine and those for mom and dad, thinking between me and me who the return one for Emanuela We would have bought it on the spot ».

« Knight warned journalists »

In addition to Cavaliere, the trip to the trip investigating judge Adele Rando. Everything seemed to go smoothly. The bishop of the local diocese gave authorization to break the cloister and the gendarmerie It was collaborative: using a blackboard to illustrate the map of the area, the local inspectors they explained to ours how the « Liberation » of the hostage, following a preordained plan such as to avoid errors o sudden escapes. « The convent was surrounded. The armed agents and in radio contact between them made a real blitz. I still see the policeman that, walking frantically, a few steps from me, He spoke on the phone with journalistsin Rome, and told them to keep each other Ready to launch the news», It is the further flash of Pietro, who, speaking of » policeman « , referred to Cavaliere.

« Mom made the sign of the thumb »

Here we are at most awaited moment. The Orlandi were accompanied inside the convent and had an office enter the ground floor. « We sat on a bench. We waited a few minutes in the grip of an irrepressible frenzy. Then the mother superior entered who nodded with his hand. Mom jumped, dad and I looked at her to encourage her. The recognition touched her. When it was on the door, she turned. I made her a sign with the thumb upwards, it seems to me yesterday …  »

The frozen shower: « He didn't look like them »

The verification lasted a few moments and it was a frozen shower. Two silent women, standing, looked at each other through a glass door. To Maria Orlandi, then little more than sixty years old, enough to cross her gaze to understand that the pretty nun she had in front of her was not her daughter. « My mother returned after 5 minutes. He was heartbroken, pale. I immediately understood that the recognition had failed». Did the photographs provided by Egidio's confidant generate misunderstandings? Or what else could have happened? «That novice, who to me it seemed much youngera girl, my sister did not even look away even « . It was called Patricia Dubois and She was born in Belgium on June 15, 1964. She therefore had 4 years more than Emanuela. The religious showed himself grieved for giving pain to the Orlandi e Mamma Maria ran them to meet them and wanted to embrace her the same, at the time of departure, even if the heart bleeds them.

The missed gift to Emanuela

The last instantaneous Of Pietro Orlandi It is this: «I was motionless, standing, and I cried. With my tightened gift in hand. Before leaving I bought two marble powder penguins embraced, to donate them to Emanuela. I remember the shop and the time that I spent choosing them well. I was absolute certainty of delivering them to my sister from a few hours, and instead .. »the older brotheralways the protagonist of the battle for the truth, that morning of July 1993 he found himself on one poignant melancholyas he stroked, in the jacket pocket, that ninnol still waiting for the recipient.

Doubts and questions

Journey to Luxembourg concluded. We went back to Rome, here. And now to loom are the requestsrendered current from Two judicial investigations on the ORLANDI-Gregori intrigue opened in 2023 both by Prosecutor of Rome both from Vatican, on Pope Francis' impulse. Investigations to be integrated with those of the bicameral commission At work for almost a year (here the interview of the Courier to the vice -president, Roberto Morassut). These are questions that the fans of crime And Mysteries of Italy have been placed for over three decades. What was motivated by the safety investigators to have Found Emanuela in Peppange? Which elements pushed power of attorney and police to expose themselves a lot, organizing the trip with The declared goal of « recovering » the hostage? Having allowed The presence of family memberson the other hand, indicates the possession of robust, if not granite tests. Unthinkable that he had only imagined a sensational media event, such as the mother's embrace to the most famous seized in the world, in the seal of the happy ending, Without the reasonable certainty of not making flask.

The suspects on Vatican « Cover »

They are common sense considerations, on closer inspection, that lead to a last question: it Italian statein exercising their investigating powers, acquired elements that led him to do not exclude that the illustrious nearby, it Vatican city state, had « covered » the transfer and the detention Abroad of Emanuela? The mission in Luxembourg could make it think.

Pietro's hypothesis: was the nun replaced?

Delicate question. What were the finds to still secret? The background, as you can see, are not lacking. And one Possible reading keygoing to consult the archives, still comes from the brother of the disappearance. Pietro Orlandi in June 2012 in fact he released a long interview aVia Pothe cultural insert of the CISL newspaper Conquests of work, entitled: « The truth without veils ». Among the many themes, the mystery of failure to recognize to Peppange. “You are sure that Emanuela wasn't right there and that it was not replaced at the last moment? « the question of the journalist Giampiero Guadagni. Peter's answer: « It's a thought that I've always had ».
Scenario all to be demonstrated, of course. « Nick » Knight could know something. To him the word, Thursday 13 March at Palazzo San Macuto, for rewrite the true story of that controversial mission On the ground Luxembourg. ([email protected])

Go to all the news of Rome

Sign up for the Corriere Roma newsletter