Mario Berlinguer

Born on 29 August 1891 in Sassari, Sardinia, Kingdom of Italy, Berlinguer descended from a noble Sardinian family of Catalan origins.

As many of his ancestors, he belonged to the Italian Freemasonry and was Great Master (33rd Scottish Rite Mason) of the regular lodge of Sassari, affiliated to the Grand Orient of Italy.

The following year, he founded the clandestine newspaper Sardegna libera (Free Sardinia), which attracted him the hostility of the Italian fascist regime.

In 1945, Berlinguer was named to the Consulta Nazionale and collaborated to the elaboration of the special regional status for Sardinia.

He was the father of Giovanni and Enrico Berlinguer, both of whom were outstanding members of the Italian Communist Party.