Aosta Bishop's secretary sparks controversy with Pride flag swastika

A controversy has erupted in Aosta following a social media post by Gilbert Turcotti, the personal secretary to Bishop Franco Lovignana. Turcotti shared an image on WhatsApp depicting Pride flags arranged to form a swastika, describing the act as a “matter of perspective.”

Bishop Lovignana quickly issued a statement clarifying that the post was a personal opinion and did not represent the official position of the Diocese. However, local LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups, including Aosta Pride and Arci-gay Queer VdA, have criticized this response as insufficient. The organizations have called for a clear and immediate condemnation of the symbol, arguing that characterizing the use of a Nazi symbol against the community as a mere “personal opinion” fails to address the gravity of the provocation.

The incident has sparked intense debate regarding the normalization of hate speech and the responsibility of religious institutions when their staff members engage in provocative political or social commentary.