In the Editorial, Umberto Allegretti examines the figure and role of the President of the Italian Republic in the context of the constitutional norms, juridical interpretations and historical experiences of the nearly sixty years since the Constitution. In particular, he stresses the very different understanding of successive presidents of their responsibilities as head of the state and embodiment of national unity. He concludes with some early hypotheses about Giorgio Napolitano’s interpretation of his role since his election as president in 2006.