On August 30 President Giorgio Napolitano appointed four Senators for Life who replace those who had died during the past year. All four are outstanding cultural figures who are also particularly well known abroad: orchestra conductor Claudio Abbado, architect Renzo Piano, Nobel prize-winning scientist Carlo Rubbia and, the only female, Elena Cattaneo, a researcher in pharmacology. For a majority of Italians, Napolitano's selection of distinguished cultural figures is not only a badge of honor, but also a model for Italian youth. Their experience brings an international approach into the Italian Senate.