Television Correspondent Max Laudadio Reflects on His Return to Faith

Max Laudadio, a well-known television correspondent recognized for his work on the investigative news program Striscia la Notizia, has opened up in a recent magazine interview about his profound return to religious faith. After years of focusing entirely on his career and professional popularity, Laudadio shared that he has spent the last thirteen years actively practicing his faith and finding deep joy in attending Sunday Mass.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Laudadio explained that he grew up in a standard family with a police officer father and a bakery employee mother. While he received his early sacraments and attended church occasionally during major holidays like Christmas, religion was not a central focus. As his career progressed, the adrenaline of fame and his own ego eventually caused him to stop practicing entirely.

The turning point in his life occurred in 2013, during the election of Pope Francis. Watching the broadcast alongside his wife, Loredana, Laudadio experienced a strong emotional reaction when the newly elected pontiff chose the name Francis. Shortly after, through his daughter's involvement at a local parish, he connected with an 85-year-old priest named Father Silvano, an encounter that would change the course of his life.

Father Silvano arranged for Laudadio to receive a book by Ernesto Olivero, founder of the Arsenal of Peace social center in Turin. Driven by an unexplainable force, Laudadio visited the center the very next morning, where he broke down in tears upon arrival. When Olivero greeted him, Laudadio immediately stated that he did not believe in God, to which Olivero warmly replied that his presence had a purpose.

Following a twenty-hour conversation filled with spirituality, Laudadio agreed to meet with Father Silvano, who challenged him to dedicate time to Eucharistic adoration. Skeptical at first, Laudadio visited a church, knelt before the altar, and experienced a moment of absolute clarity. "I knelt and right at that precise moment, I understood that God exists," he recalled, describing how he spent three hours feeling completely hypnotized by the crucifix.

Today, Laudadio incorporates his faith into daily action through community service and family life. Alongside his wife and daughter, he and Loredana have welcomed two young foreign individuals into their home: Ina, a young Albanian woman they met in a hospital room while their daughter was receiving care, and Stanley, a Nigerian caregiver who previously assisted his wife's great-grandmother. After the elder's passing, the family provided Stanley with housing and encouragement, leading him to win a volunteering award and earn Italian citizenship.

In addition to his media career and spiritual pursuits, Laudadio remains active in environmental and social causes. He recently participated in a conference focused on sports and disability in Varese, where he utilized a metaphor about ants to emphasize the power of community collaboration. By joining forces with others, he reminded attendees that collective efforts can spark meaningful change.