Monk and Christian theologian Enzo Bianchi has died at the age of 83. He was best known for founding the Bose monastic community in Piedmont, one of the most innovative experiments in Christian monastic life in Europe. Over the years, Bianchi also became a prominent public voice on Christianity, writing extensively for Italian newspapers La Repubblica and La Stampa, appearing on television programmes, and publishing several successful books with Einaudi. He was also highly regarded within the Catholic Church, receiving appointments and invitations from every pope from John Paul II onwards. In 2021, Bianchi left Bose after years of internal tensions that were resolved only through the personal intervention of Pope Francis, who decided to remove him as head of the community. The reasons for his removal were never officially clarified. Bianchi was a charismatic leader with a magnetic and centralising personality, and was widely seen as having struggled to genuinely relinquish control after formally stepping down as prior in 2017. Following his removal, he moved a few kilometres away and founded a parallel community with some of the monks and nuns who had left Bose with him. Unlike most monasteries, Bose was and remains a mixed and ecumenical community, bringing together men and women from different Christian denominations, including Orthodox and Protestant traditions. Around 50 brothers and sisters currently live there. Over time, Bose's distinctive character has made it a reference point for ecumenical Christianity in Italy and for many progressive Catholics.