He promised and he did it. Don Renato Mazzuiaparish priest of the church of Sant’Antonio di Padova del Lido of Venicebells rang on Monday morning to announce the release of Alberto Trentini, Venetian from the Lido, released from prison on January 12 after a prison term of over 420 days in Venezuela without any charges and on Tuesday morning finally returned to Italy on a state flight that left Caracas and landed in Ciampino where the Prime Minister was waiting for him Giorgia Meloni and the Foreign Minister Antonio Tajaniin addition to Trentini’s mother, Armanda Colussohis lawyer Alessandra Ballerini, Burlò’s daughter and his lawyer, Maurizio Basile.
«I have now heard from mother Armanda via message, I congratulated her and her husband Ezio and the lawyer who has followed them in these long days. Today is the day of happiness for them. Of enjoying the end of this nightmare as a family. They will stay calm at home, they need to live this moment, to find tranquility after the great fear for this son, their only treasure”, says the priest after the announcement of Alberto’s release.
The release came almost a week after the arrest of the Venezuelan prime minister Nicolas Maduro, when the situation in the country becomes increasingly confused. In Venezuela there is a lot of uncertainty, the Government seems unable to find a new balance and the factions seem to be reorganizing. In addition to Trentini, another Italian was freed, the Turin entrepreneur Mario Burlò, also detained since 2024, and he also returned to Italy on Tuesday morning.
For Don Mazzuia and for the entire parish community it is a great joy. «My cell phone is full of messages that come to me from all over to rejoice with us. This morning it was some parishioners who reported to me the first news agency announcement announcing Trentini’s liberation. I relaunched the news in the community chat.” The 9am Mass is the time of thanksgiving. «For more than a year we have accompanied the liturgical moments with remembrance and prayer for Trentini. Even the whole time this Christmas saw us praying for Alberto. I am truly happy to dedicate the usual 24-hour Eucharistic vigil, which takes place next Friday, no longer to the request but to thanking the Lord for this liberation.”
Alberto Trentini, 46 years old, aid worker engaged in activities to support disabled people with the association Humanity & Inclusion, he was arrested by the Venezuelan authorities on November 15, 2024 while he was traveling to Guasdualito. The reasons for his detention have never been clarified and the prison he was held in is infamous for overcrowding and terrible living conditions. It is called El Rodeo I, in the state of Miranda, on the outskirts of Caracas, about 30 kilometers from the capital, in a place called Guatire.
Trentini, graduated in History and with long experience in cooperation in Ethiopia, Nepal, Greece, Colombia, Lebanonhad arrived in Caracas on 17 October 2024. For him the mobilization in Italy was very high: the Free Trentini Committee, the actress Ottavia Piccolo, Beppe Giulietti of the Articolo 21 association, the mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro, but there are countless people who signed the petition in his favor and participated in the demonstrations for his liberation. The President of the Republic telephoned, giving his solidarity, to mother Armanda and the Italian Government made many efforts to free him.
«We have always been confident, fueled by Christian hope. Today we are very happy. It seems to me that Alberto is fine, I saw a photo. We are happy for Ezio and Armanda who have always been present at the Mass and prayers of our community”, continues Don Renato, “rather, it was difficult to follow the news: at first very scarce, then always very fluctuating. At certain moments it seemed like everything was done and then nothing happened, things didn’t change. We have always tried to cheer up the parents who came to pray with us during the vigils we organized, during the torchlight processions, in short we tried to be close. It wasn’t easy. We also collaborated with the committee established for the liberation of Trentini».
Mother Armanda was recently indicated by Famiglia Cristiana among the Women of the Year 2025 for having transformed a private pain into a public responsibility. «Joys and sorrows always strengthen a community. This affair has tested our strength of spirit, our union. It took on a dimension that went far beyond the local. We had a national involvement, we were very exposed, we knew how to stay close and find strength in prayer and daily closeness. Now I sincerely trust that everything falls within the ordinary, in the dimension of everyday life of a community that prays and cultivates solidarity.”
