Vatican Removes Pro-Migrant Priest After Sanitation and Legal Disputes in Tuscany
The Holy See has dismissed Father Massimo Biancalani from his duties at two Pistoia parishes following health-code violations and clashes with local authorities over his housing of illegal migrants.
The Vatican confirmed that Father Massimo Biancalani has been removed from his roles at the Santa Maria Maggiore parish in Vicofaro and San Niccolò in Ramini, both in the Pistoia province of Tuscany. Known for sheltering up to 200 illegal migrants at a time, Biancalani faced criticism from local residents who complained about poor sanitation and fire risks, leading to a health authority inspection that found severe violations.
In June 2025, Pistoia Mayor Alessandro Tomasi asked police to evict 176 migrants housed by the priest, a move later reinforced by Bishop Fausto Tardelli after some migrants resisted relocation. The bishop also stripped Biancalani of his legal authority over the parish, citing obstruction. Biancalani filed two appeals—against the loss of representation and a proposed transfer—but the Holy See rejected both and formally dismissed him, allowing a sixty-day period for further appeal. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini publicly praised the decision, while Biancalani expressed disappointment and warned that migrant sheltering remains a contentious issue within the Church and Italian society.
Why it matters
The removal highlights tensions between humanitarian activism, public health standards, and church authority in Italy.
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