Honouring the Airship ITALIA Crew at the 81st parallel North

A year ago today, on Aug 13, 2018, the Polarquest crew ventured into the Arctic to pay respects to the Airship ITALIA crew. They were the first people to visit the crash point, above the 81st parallel North of the Svalbard Archipelago, and held a memorial in honour of the missing crew members and left in memory a blessed wooden cross.
The Polarquest delegation at the Vatican.
The Polarquest delegation at the Vatican.

On May 22nd 2019, Pope Francis received a delegation from Polarquest, honouring their accomplishment as the first people to reach the crash point of the airship.

The Polarquest delegation included Paola Catapano and Mike Struik, descendants of the Airship ITALIA crew members, Princess Elettra Marconi (daughter of Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of the radio) and Prof. Massimo Inguscio (President of the CNR, who manages the Arctic research station “Dirigibile Italia” in Ny Alesund, Svalbard, where the mooring mast of the airship is still visible).

On behalf of Polarquest, Pino Biagi, descendant of the Italia radio operator, gave Pope Francis a photo from the memorial ceremony printed on wood.
Giuseppe Biagi presents Pope Francis with a photo from the memorial ceremony.
Descendant Pino Biagi presents Pope Francis with a photo from the memorial ceremony.