You're never quite ready. And sometimes words, prayers, songs, and memories don't seem enough. But here's the thing: not much has changed for us. You're still here for us. What you were remains—powerfully, unmistakably. You measured this life by a standard that taught all of us so much, and brought us such joy. I remember when I was lonely after you left, missing you, after arriving in Germany. You told me: "Carry what you have from Fede e Luce with you always, and give it to everyone." — Laura Broccolo
Since yesterday, memories keep coming back. I found a photo: lunch by the sea with our Cypriot friends on Turkish soil, and that famous toast of Daniele's—"Long live Turkey!" We laughed so hard. I'll miss laughing with you. I'll miss your dry wit, your impressions, the nicknames you made up for our friends, the constant stream of photos. — Angela Gattulli
Today I witnessed a small great miracle—one you don't expect. Today, at the church of Santa Chiara in Piazza Giuochi Delfici, where I spent half my "religious" life in joy and sorrow, watched in disbelief as a joyful, colorful farewell ceremony unfolded for a great friend of Fede e Luce. Sad, yes, but radiant. That Fede e Luce—the one that never had the chance to be known in this parish, to enter through the front door. Today, Fede e Luce walked in behind its Captain. And those walls trembled to the rhythm of the Alleluias sung by the light of the candles. The parish had to change its mind about how present the Holy Spirit truly is—in an alchemy that only Fede e Luce knows how to create. Thank you, Stefano Di Franco, for making this small great miracle happen. Safe travels, Spilungo. — Monica Leggeri
You know, Ste', today when they said you had three families—your own, Fede e Luce, and the forestry service—I felt a tightness in my chest. I wanted to speak for your forestry family, but I couldn't. My emotion would have broken the spell that your people of light and faith had woven into a celebration. Your great beauty showed itself today through your kids, who embodied everything you were, are, and will always be for each of them. I love you, and like you always said when you saw me: "the best in the whole Service." — Benedetta Di Coste
Dear Stefano, whoever can stir such love, such gratitude, such joy in the memory of moments shared with them—whoever can bring together so many friends, all buried in their own demands and daily struggles, yet ready to set it all aside just to walk with you on this great journey—whoever can draw from us, through their memory, a tear and a smile and so much, so much tenderness, mixed with the certainty that you will never abandon us—can only be a unique person, someone who understood, before and better than the rest of us, the importance and power of every authentic, deep, transparent human relationship. Thank you, Stefano, for your friendship, for the affection and gentleness with which you looked at our children. Thank you for teaching us how to be with our young people and their families. Thank you for being a true friend and a true Captain. But above all, thank you for your simplicity. — Maria Vercillo
Thank you for so much love held in such great humility. You are that Gospel of Matthew (25, 31-40) that we proclaimed today. The Word still becomes flesh. So much grace in so much fragility—what Jean Vanier calls "vulnerability"—that beautiful vessel of the heart that lets us be loved and teaches us to love. Say hello to Jesus for me and tell him I love him. Watch over us and all your "little ones." Goodbye, long soul. — Ilaria Di Bernardo