By Anthony Faiola / Stefano Pitrelli contributed to this report

FLORENCE, Italy — The power of the Catholic Church in Italy has forced thousands of gays and lesbians to live in the shadows, and the opposition of bishops made this the only nation in Western Europe to withhold legal rights from same-sex couples. But gay Catholics here now speak of a new ray of light from what they call “l’effetto Francesco.”

Alessandro Penso / OnOff Picture for The Washington Post – Giulia Masieri, 32, is given Communion during the Mass held by Don Andrea Bigalli in the Church of Sant’Andrea in Florence, Italy. The parish welcomes gay Catholics.

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