Pagani, March 8, 2026 — The Basilica of Sant’Alfonso hosted the funeral Eucharistic celebration of the Redemptorist missionary, who passed away on March 6 in Torre del Greco.
On the afternoon of March 8, at 2:30 PM, the Basilica of Sant’Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori in Pagani hosted the solemn funeral of the Redemptorist priest, a member of the Province of Europe South, who passed away on March 6, 2026, in Torre del Greco after a brief illness. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Archbishop Alfonso Amarante, C.Ss.R., Rector Magnificent of the Lateran University. Concelebrants included Bishop Antonio De Luca, C.Ss.R., of Teggiano-Policastro, and Bishop Pasquale Cascio, Archbishop of Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi-Conza-Nusco-Bisaccia.
Monsignor Amarante’s homily
In his homily, Bishop Amarante painted a vivid and personal portrait of Father Panella, whom he had known since 1986. With the Gospel of Living Water as his backdrop, he recalled how Luciano had been a source of freshness in faith for so many: “Wherever he went, he brought joy, he brought hope. He truly had the ability to shake people up with his youthful demeanor, to bring something new. But that newness wasn’t him, it was Christ. This is the most beautiful gift Luciano could have left us.”
Bishop Amarante then spoke of the unexpected gift of his last few months: his illness, which he accepted with serenity and lived publicly as a testimony of faith. “Accustomed to seeing this tall, strong, and energetic man,” he said, “we were all deeply surprised. He faced his illness with a sense of trusting abandonment in God’s hands, leaving us a testimony of faith and a wonderful life.”
The final interventions
At the conclusion of the Mass, Father Zdzislaw Francois Stanula, C.Ss.R., Vicar General of the Redemptorist Congregation, read a message of condolence from Superior General Father Rogerio Gomes, who was recently visiting the Redemptorist units in the Philippines. In the message, Father Gomes gratefully recalled Father Panella’s service to the Congregation and to the People of God, particularly his generous work as Rector of the Shrine of Perpetual Help and Superior of the Casa Sant’Alfonso in Rome, where he exercised his ministry with a spirit of service, fraternal hospitality, and a profound sense of community.
The closing remarks were made by Father Gennaro Sorrentino, C.Ss.R., Superior of the Europe South Province, who expressed the emotion felt by the entire province. He recalled the countless expressions of esteem that had arrived from all sides—including the phone call from the Cardinal of Naples, Father Mimmo Battaglia—and entrusted Father Luciano with a final wish: to continue praying for the gift of vocations. “He always knew how to support the dreams of young people, wisely encouraging them in their choice of consecrated life.”
Streaming from the Basilica of Sant’Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori – Pagani (SA) Funeral of Father Luciano Panella – available on the basilica’s Facebook profile .
Who was Father Luciano Panella?
Born on January 7, 1955 in Sant’Angelo a Cupolo (BN), Luciano Panella made his first profession on September 29, 1972 and was ordained a priest on August 31, 1980. Member of the then Province of Naples, now the Province of Europe South.
A Redemptorist religious at the service of the Gospel, Father Panella held positions of great responsibility within the Congregation throughout his life. He was superior in Tropea (1996-1999) and Materdomini (1999-2007). As rector, he led the Sanctuary of San Gerardo Maiella, welcoming thousands of pilgrims from all over Italy and the world. During those years, he also promoted the “Light Up Charity” initiative, to support Redemptorist missionary work and translate prayer into concrete solidarity.
From 2008 to 2015, he served as rector of the Shrine of Perpetual Help in Rome and as superior of the Community of Saint Alphonsus in Rome. He then returned to Pagani as superior of the community and rector of the Basilica of Saint Alphonsus (2015–2019), where he became a profound spiritual and human reference for many—especially young people.
P. Luciano con Mons. Michael Breh CSsR, allora Superiore Generale, Roma 2015. 
P. Luciano guida la processione, Roma 2015. 
P. Luciano con Card. Joseph Tobin, Pagani 2017. 
Festa della Madre del Perpetuo Soccorso, Roma 2015.
Since 1987, as a vocation promoter, he was among the founders of the Redemptorist Youth Vocation Ministry (RYVM) and the organizer of the First International Youth Meeting in Pagani—an experience that influenced entire generations of young Italian Redemptorists. A scholar and man of culture, he has published, among other works, the biography of Saint Gerard Majella, “The Little Friar Who Played with God” (Shalom, 2005).
Until the last days of his life he actively collaborated with the Redemptorist Foreign Missions, which had been engaged in evangelization in the mission territories of Madagascar for over 60 years.
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer entrusts Father Luciano to the mercy of the Lord, grateful for his testimony of faith, his generous service to the Church, and his tireless dedication to the Redemptorist mission.
Message from Father Rogério Gomes, Superior General, presented at the funeral of Father Luciano Panella
Davao, Philippines, March 7, 2026
Fr. GENNARO SORRENTINO
Provincial Superior of the Province of Europe South
Message of Condolences
Dear Father Gennaro,
I received with deep sadness the news of the death of our beloved confrere, Fr. Luciano Panella. I write, on behalf of the General Government, to express our fraternal closeness to the confreres of the Europe South Province and his family in this time of mourning. United in faith and Easter hope, we entrust his life and his missionary witness to the mercy of the Lord.
We thank God for the gift of Fr. Luciano’s life and missionary vocation, as well as for his generous service to the Congregation over the course of many years, serving the People of God. We especially remember his generous work as Rector of the Casa Sant’Alfonso, where he exercised his ministry with a spirit of service, fraternal welcome, and a deep sense of community.
Among the many qualities that marked his life, I remember with gratitude the affection and care he always showed toward his sick brothers, accompanying them with attention, gentleness, and a genuine fraternal spirit. This silent witness of charity remains a beautiful expression of our apostolic and community life.
He experienced his own ordeal. On February 1st of this year, he wrote to me in response to one of my letters: “Thank you so much, dearest Rogerio. Your closeness and that of the community comforts me greatly. I want you to know that I am truly at peace, but also grateful to the Lord for the many gifts he has given me, and, last but not least, this illness that allows me to bear witness in this trial. I place myself completely in the hands of God and Mary. I ask for nothing, only that God’s will be done “as God wills and as long as God wills” and that He grant me great strength in this trial. My prayers, respect, and friendship accompany you.”
We entrust Father Luciano to the merciful embrace of the Redeemer, certain that He whom he served faithfully will now welcome him into the fullness of life.
May Our Lady of Perpetual Help console your saddened hearts and sustain you all in your Easter hope.
May Father Luciano Panella rest in the peace of the Lord.
In fraternal communion and in prayer,
Fraternally,
Fr. Rogério Gomes, C.Ss.R.
Superior General
Below are some moments of his life reported in the notes of Scala News (also thanks to his own contribution):
March 30, 2017 – “The Love of Saint Alphonsus for the Weakest”
https://www.cssr.news/2017/06/st-alphonsus-and-the-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-fr-luciano-panella-cssr-in-tv2000/
– – > Broadcast on TV2000 on the morning of March 30, 2017, from the Shrine of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori in Pagani (SA), Father Luciano Panella shared some moments from the life of Saint Alphonsus with the world.
For Father Luciano, Saint Alphonsus was the one who managed to bring a new openness to the Church, his offering of himself to the community through his profession: lawyer, writer, and priest.
May 29, 2017 – “Traveling Conference on the Occasion of the Bicentenary of the Beatification of Saint Alphonsus”
https://www.cssr.news/2017/05/itinerant-conference-on-the-occasion-of-the-bicentennial-celebration-of-the-beatification-of-st-alphonsus/
– – > A special contribution from his organizational skills resulted in the traveling conference on the occasion of the bicentenary of the beatification of Saint Alphonsus (September 15, 1816-2016). The event involved Pagani, Ciorani, Sant’Agata dei Goti, Materdomini, and Scala. At the time of its conclusion, Fr. Luciano Panella was the Superior of the Pagani community.
10/08/2018 – “Pagani: a contemporary restoration”
https://www.cssr.news/2018/08/restoration-of-the-redemptorist-house-of-pagani/– – > The restoration project in Pagani, promoted by Father Superior Luciano Panella and designed by architect Lorenzo Gargano, succeeded in recovering the ancient architectural spaces following the original Alphonsian artistic idea.
Among his writings:
“In our tradition as Redemptorist missionaries, we learn and live experiences that show how friendship is a precious gift when it is based on trust, loyalty, love, and respect. For many of us, the mutual affection we share in community arises from the shared purpose of a fraternal life project in which friendship leads us to desire the other’s growth and that each person’s hope is to give the best of themselves to the one mission of Jesus Christ. Could this be a feasible project in our Christian communities too?”
Luciano Panella C.Ss.R. (From In cammino con San Gerardo, April 2017, the monthly magazine of the Redemptorist Family)
You can learn more in Scala News: “The Wonders of Friendship, Luciano Panella C.Ss.R.” (April 13, 2017)
https://www.cssr.news/italian/2017/04/le-meraviglie-dellamicizia-luciano-panella-c-ss-r/
Scala News
