Traditionalist bishop who fought Communion in hand still has no gravestone after 7 years - LifeSite

Tue Aug 4, 2026 - 10:43 am EDT (LifeSiteNews) — Seven years after his death, Bishop Juan Rodolfo Laise’s grave still has no headstone. The Argentine Capuchin, known worldwide for his steadfast defense of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, is buried in the cemetery of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy – the town famous for the convent where St. Pio of Pietrelcina lived. In place of a marble inscription, only a simple paper funeral notice, taped over his grave at his 2019 burial, marks the spot. The situation is as unusual as it is symbolically significant for a bishop who left a lasting mark on contemporary liturgical discourse. To understand why his memorial remains incomplete, and what it would take to restore it, LifeSiteNews spoke with Italian journalist Simone Ortolani, who has spent recent months investigating the case with the hope of bringing the matter to the attention of Catholics worldwide. As an independent associate producer, Ortolani has produced documentaries on prominent …