The false priest of Pozzo Strada case
News of
The case of the false priest of Pozzo Strada concerns a 25-year-old Egyptian man who, presenting himself under the name don Salam Faragalla, celebrated Mass for months in three parishes of the Turin district of Pozzo Strada, posing as a priest of the Coptic Church. The case becomes public in early November 2026, after the Diocese of Turin removes him and reports him to the public prosecutor's office.
Arrival and deception
The young man had introduced himself to the parish priest of Santa Rosa da Lima, in the Pozzo Strada district, claiming to be a Coptic priest who had moved to Turin to study at the Politecnico (polytechnic university). Since June he had been hosted by that parish, where he received board, lodging and the fees customary for celebrating Mass [2]. He had produced documents that appeared to be in order, including a priestly ordination dated 31 January 2025 [1][2]. Over time he had begun to concelebrate and to stand in for priests also in the parishes of San Leonardo Murialdo and Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore di Gesù. According to reports, despite some differences from the Roman Catholic rite, attributed to his supposed membership of the Coptic Church, he came across as credible when celebrating Mass [1].
The discovery
The checks were triggered by a phone call from a churchgoer to don Giuliano Naso, parish priest of San Leonardo Murialdo and of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore di Gesù, who said he was certain the young man was not a priest [1][2]. The parish priest informed the episcopal vicar for pastoral affairs, who launched further checks together with the Egyptian vicariate and the Italian Episcopal Conference [2]. The Egyptian vicariate confirmed that the documents produced, both those relating to the priestly ordination and those relating to enrolment at the Politecnico, were not genuine [1][2].
Removal and the report
Alberto Riccadonna, spokesman for Archbishop Roberto Repole, said that the Curia had removed the young man and reported him to the public prosecutor's office on suspicion of fraud [1]. The diocese also removed his name from its official website [2]. The parish priest of Santa Rosa da Lima, while confirming the events, did not condemn the young man, suggesting he might have wanted to become a priest without succeeding [1].
Sources
- Falso sacerdote celebra Messa per tre mesi a Torino: per don Salam è arrivata la denuncia — La Stampa, 2 November 2026
- Finto prete celebrava Messa, 25enne denunciato a Torino — ANSA Piemonte, 2 November 2026