Former punk band guitarist, policeman ordained to Catholic priesthood

The Cathedral of Prato, Italy, was the setting last Saturday for the ordination of a former punk band guitarist and policeman.

Father Giulio Vanucci, who has long hair and a beard and who earlier in life was part of the group i Quanti, a local punk band, was ordained along with Father Michele Di Stefano, a former police officer, by the bishop of Prato, Giovanni Nerbini.

“The Lord has not chosen administrators or supermen but simple and always generous people,” Bishop Nerbini said in his homily at the ordination Mass.

Father Vanucci, 38, was born in the town of Pistoia. Of his punk band past, he told the Italian newspaper Avvenire it was “a period in which I had a lot of fun and that I do not regret.” 

During the past eight years, Father Vanucci has worked as a bricklayer in a Catholic housing apostolate. “For me, being a priest means putting oneself even more at service, it means taking care of everything and everyone,” he said.

The other priest, Father Michele Di Stefano, 39, is a former police officer in the town of Bardonecchia. He completed his priestly formation in Florence.

“Today is not a goal achieved but rather the beginning of a new path, even an exhausting one,” Father Di Stefano said. “But I am sure that I am not alone and that I have God’s help. My intention is to be close to people who suffer, who feel alone,” said Father Di Stefano, who was accompanied by several policemen who were former colleagues of his.

This story was first pubvlished by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.