VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2006 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram of condolences to Cardinal Ruini, Vicar General for the diocese of Rome, regarding the assassination of an Italian priest, Andrea Santoro, yesterday in Trabzon (Turkey). The assassination took place while Fr. Santoro was praying in the Church where he had just celebrated mass.
The Pope brought together the sorrow of the Church of Rome, of which Fr. Andrea was a missionary fidei donum. "While I hope that his blood shed may be a seed of hope for the building of authentic fraternity among people, I raise fervent prayers for the brave witness to the Gospel of love, and I impart with all my heart the consoling apostolic blessing on his family, in particular, the elderly mother so saddened, and others who mourn his violent death."
In another telegram addressed to Bishop Luigi Padovese, apostolic vicar of Anatolia (Turkey), the Pope highlighted the generosity and apostolic dedication with which the priest carried out his ministry "in favor of the Gospel and in service of those marginalized and in need." The Holy Father expressed, "in this sad moment" his particular closeness to this Christian community, "reaffirming my firm condemnation of all forms of violence."
TGR/ASSASSINATED ITALIAN PRIEST/RUINI VIS 20060206 (220)
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