Bishop Francesco Savino, titular of the diocese of Cassano all’Jonio and current vice president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), stated in an interview that he considers it “wrong” to deny homosexual people the possibility of living love also on the sexual level. His words, published by the Italian media DirittoDiCronaca.it and reported by The Catholic Herald, have sparked widespread controversy among the faithful.
“People in same-sex relationships must not be deprived of the opportunity to be loved and to love, even on an intimate, sexual level, because denying them that, denying them that right, I repeat, is simply wrong,” affirmed the 70-year-old prelate. Savino added that the Church must “restore dignity to all, especially to those who have been denied it.”
A bishop close to LGBT activism
Monsignor Savino is known for his closeness to LGBT groups. On September 6, he celebrated a Mass for Catholic LGBT pilgrims in the Church of the Gesù, in Rome, as part of the activities of the Jubilee of Hope 2025. The celebration, organized by the lay association Tenda di Gionata, brought together more than a thousand people from different countries. Among the concelebrants were about thirty priests, including the American Jesuit James Martin, known for his activism in favor of normalizing homosexuality within the Church.
According to The Catholic Herald, Pope Francis would have encouraged Bishop Savino to participate in this Jubilee Mass with the words: “Go and celebrate the Jubilee organized by Tenda di Gionata and the other groups that work with these brothers and sisters.” During the homily, Savino insisted that “God loves each person with a unique and unrepeatable love, an unconditional love” and encouraged those present to leave “more joyful and hopeful than ever.”
Background and profile of the prelate
Born on November 13, 1954, in Bitonto, near Bari, Francesco Savino was ordained a priest in 1978. He studied at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia and obtained degrees in theology and anthropology. During his ministry, he combined teaching and pastoral care with social and youth projects. He was director of Caritas in Bitonto and, in 1989, rector of the basilica of the Holy Physicians Cosmas and Damian.
In 2015, he was appointed bishop of Cassano all’Jonio by Pope Francis. Since then, he has stood out for his pastoral approach to social issues, such as migration, peace, and the dignity of human life. He has participated in humanitarian visits to places like Odessa and the Calabrian coast where a tragic migrant shipwreck occurred.
Reactions and debate in Italy
Savino’s statements have generated intense debate within the Italian Catholic community. While some progressive media have praised his “pastoral openness,” several priests and theologians have expressed concern over what they consider a personal interpretation that contradicts revealed morality. Some faithful have recalled that “Christian love is not measured by desire, but by the truth of the Gospel.”
Read also: After the CEI document… where is the Italian Church heading?
For the moment, the Episcopal Conference has not issued an official statement on the words of its vice president, although after the document «Ferment of Peace and Hope«, it is easier to see the direction of the CEI’s vision.