Guido Gallese resigns as Bishop of Alessandria

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Monsignor Guido Gallese as the Bishop of Alessandria, ending a period of significant tension within the Italian diocese. The decision follows an apostolic visitation led by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, who was tasked by the Holy See to investigate reports of internal divisions, complaints from clergy, and protests from the local community.

Gallese’s tenure was marked by various controversies, including public criticism regarding his lifestyle, such as his use of a Tesla and interests in surfing. Following his departure, Luigi Testore, the Bishop of Acqui Terme, has been appointed as the apostolic administrator to lead the diocese.

In a statement to the diocesan newspaper, Gallese expressed gratitude for his new assignment involving Italian shrines, noting that his vocation is deeply tied to Marian pilgrimage sites. He described his departure as an act of humility for the good of the community, stating, “sometimes truly loving a community means having the courage and humility, when one feels a common fatigue, to take a step back for the good of all.”