Shortly before the anti-establishment Five Star Movement overwhelmingly backed Luigi Di Maio to be its candidate for Italian prime minister, the 31-year-old paid a visit to Naples’ main cathedral for a rite of passage. He went there to witness — for the first time — the “miracle of San Gennaro”, in which the dried blood of the city’s patron saint Januarius is liquefied and displayed to the faithful.
The omen for Naples was good that September day, as the blood had melted unusually quickly, drawing huge applause. It was also an encouraging presage for Mr Di Maio, who kissed the receptacle containing the sacred relics — as more traditional politicians have done before him. “I felt a strong emotion,” he told reporters. “This is a great moment for our religion and our faith.”
Last Sunday, Mr Di Maio performed his own political marvel, leading Five Star to sweeping gains in Italy’s general election and reviving the spectre of populism in the EU. The party, which was founded as an internet protest movement in 2009 by a burly sardonic comedian from Genoa called Beppe Grillo, won 32 per cent of the national vote, the most of any party in the country. Young, poor, and southern Italians all disproportionately flocked to Mr Di Maio’s side on the back of promises to halt public corruption, end EU austerity policies and offer income support for the downtrodden. He still faces an uphill struggle to become prime minister because Five Star fell short of a parliamentary majority. But he will be a pivotal player in coalition talks this month.