NYTIMES (Motoko Rich, Josephine de La Bruyère and Alessandro Grassani) - With Priests Scarce in Rural Italy, an African Pastor Is Filling the Void
Immigrants have long eased labor shortages on farms and factories in Italy. But churches also need foreign-born priests, like the Rev. Vincent Souly of the Ivory Coast.
AI:A severe shortage of local clergy in rural Italy has forced the Catholic Church to rely on immigrant priests to maintain spiritual services, exemplified by Rev. Vincent Souly from the Ivory Coast stepping in to fill the void. This reliance on foreign-born religious leaders mirrors a broader trend across Europe where migrant populations are increasingly utilized to sustain essential societal institutions amidst dwindling domestic numbers.Open