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Don Aldo Buonaiuto was born in Livorno on 19 February 1971.
He was ordained a diocesan priest on 8 December 1998. After studying philosophy and theology, he obtained a licentiate specializing in theological anthropology. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in social sciences and pastoral theology.
He was appointed a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis.
He serves the Diocese of Rome as Deputy Director of Caritas, pastor of the Parish of San Lino, and exorcist.
He has long been associated with the International Association of Exorcists (AIE), of which he is also a member of the governing board.
He is one of the best-known figures of the Pope John XXIII Community Association, an international organization of pontifical right and a major presence of the Catholic Church throughout Italy and around the world. The association was founded by Father Oreste Benzi. Father Buonaiuto worked alongside its founder, Father Oreste Benzi, during the last 15 years of his life. Within the association, he has always focused on the issue of forced prostitution, fighting to restore dignity to the many women exploited by criminal organizations on the streets, in private homes, and in clubs. In this area, he runs an emergency reception service for victims of human trafficking and prostitution.
He is the national coordinator of the Anti-Cult Affairs sector of the Pope John XXIII Community Association, which operates its own national toll-free helpline, 800 228866. Established in 2002, the helpline provides assistance to victims of cult organizations. This service cooperates with law-enforcement agencies, particularly with the Italian State Police, through the Central Operations Service of the Central Directorate for Crime Prevention, which has established the Anti-Cult Squad (SAS) within its structure. The Anti-Cult Helpline works with the State Police’s SAS throughout Italy on issues involving criminal or criminogenic cults. It also cooperates with the Socio-Religious Research and Information Group (GRIS).
A registered journalist, Father Buonaiuto founded the digital publication In Terris (interris.it), “the voice of the forgotten,” on 8 September 2014. Since 2002, he has written a regular column for the Marche regional newspaper *Corriere Adriatico*. For many years, he has written a Sunday Gospel commentary for the diocesan newspaper L’Azione. In recent years, he has also hosted a weekly programme on Radio Rai Isoradio, broadcast every Saturday, entitled On the Roads of the Forgotten. He contributes to several publications and has written numerous articles, as well as several books on human trafficking, cults, and other social and spiritual issues.
He serves as the “spiritual adviser” to SIAP, the Italian trade union representing members of the State Police.
He is the founder and President of the Pace in Terra ETS Association (paceinterra.org), an organization that provides shelter and support for marginalized people and, in recent years, for refugees as well. He has been actively involved in promoting humanitarian corridors and in welcoming victims of war, torture, and other vulnerable individuals.
He also founded the Pace in Terra social cooperative, which supports women who are victims of human trafficking through the “Redenta” project (redenta.it).
For several decades, he has led a prayer group called “Goel,” which meets in Perugia every Saturday night in the Pian di Massiano area to pray the Rosary, invoking the liberation of young women enslaved through prostitution and encouraging them, through the power of prayer, to break free from slavery.
He was appointed a Knight of the Republic by President Sergio Mattarella.
