Vatican sends in coadjutor to help sort out infamous diocese

Pope Francis has dispatched a coadjutor to help an Italian bishop bring order to what has been described as “the most gossiped-about diocese in Italy”.

For 24 years Bishop Mario Oliveri, 70, has presided over the Diocese of Albenga-Imperia, which has been ridiculed for a series of “playboy priests” who variously moonlighted as bar tenders, posted naked photos of themselves on gay websites or ran off with the contents of the church coffers. Guglielmo Borghetti, formerly Bishop of Orbetello, will now be the bishop’s “assistant”, the Vatican said.

Bishop Oliveri said he voluntarily asked for assistance. An investigation was launched last year after parishioners complained that Bishop Oliveri welcomed “black sheep” indiscriminately. When a former catwalk model from Argentina was appointed a priest, worshippers protested that they did not want “a designer priest”. Fr Gabriel Viorel Irla, of Poggio, was almost ousted by his parishioners after he allegedly posted semi-nude photos of himself on his Facebook page. Another priest, Fr Alfonso Maria Parente of Pairolo, ran off with church donations, while a fourth was found to be running a bar with his girlfriend.