In Italy, Catholic Bishop Reaches Out for Dialogue with Gay Pride Organizers
In late September 2026 in the Campania region of southern Italy, Monsignor Angelo Spinillo, Roman Catholic Bishop of Aversa, established a direct civic and pastoral dialogue with organizers of the inaugural Giugliano Pride. The bishop received a delegation of LGBTQ+ advocates at his episcopal residence and, on the eve of the demonstration, issued a formal letter recognizing common ground in defending human dignity, countering violence, and building peace.
According to a press release from the Giugliano Pride organizing committee , the meeting took place on September 19 at the Episcopio in Aversa. The delegation was headed by Carlo Cremona, president of regional advocacy group i Ken APS ETS and chief coordinator of the march. The audience was arranged to introduce the goals of Giugliano Pride and the forthcoming launch of the Rainbow Center Giugliano – CAD Napoli Nord, an anti-discrimination hub designed to provide psychosocial and legal support to victims of hate and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In his letter dated September 25, Monsignor Spinillo thanked the delegation for their commitment to “building bridges” and engaging in mutual listening. The bishop stressed that while both parties retain their respective autonomy, institutional roles, and theological principles—without departing from Catholic teaching on morals—they can work alongside one another on shared priorities: rejecting abuse, overcoming violence, and fostering conditions for a dignified life for all. Carlo Cremona welcomed the letter as a meaningful development, observing that “differences can remain differences without turning into distance, hostility, or confrontation.”
The Giugliano Pride march took place on September 26, drawing thousands of participants through the streets of the municipality. Italian commentators noted the sharp contrast between Bishop Spinillo’s constructive engagement and events in the northern Diocese of Aosta, where a controversy erupted after an assistant to the local bishop posted an image of a rainbow swastika on social media, for which he subsequently apologized.
The Diocese of Aversa encompasses municipalities in the Province of Caserta and the northern metropolitan area of Naples, including Giugliano in Campania, one of southern Italy’s most populous cities. Bishop Angelo Spinillo has served the diocese since 2011 and previously served as vice president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI). The i Ken association has operated in Campania for years, organizing cultural projects and victim-support initiatives.
This exchange reflects an evolving relationship between Catholic leaders and LGBTQ+ civil groups in Italy. Previously, Urania reported on remarks by CEI vice president Bishop Francesco Savino calling for full recognition of the dignity of LGBT people, covered theological inquiries by Italian Jesuit priest Paolo Gamberini on homosexuality and the order of creation, and reviewed a Vatican synodal study report incorporating testimonies from married gay Catholics.
