Bishop Luigi Padovese murdered

ISKENDERUN, Turkey - Monsignor Luigi Padovese, Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia since August 11, 2004 was murdered in his residence at Iskenderun.

He was born in Milan on March 31, 1947. He joined the Capuchin Order on October 3, 1964. Ordained priest on June 16, 1973, he was Professor of Patristics at the Pontifical Antonianum University, and for sixteen years he directed the Spirituality Institute at the same University. He also held chairs at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy. He later spent 10 years as Visitor of the Oriental College in Rome on behalf of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, and as Consultor to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In 2006 Bishop Padovese concelebrated with Cardinal Camillo Ruini at the funeral of Fr. Andrea Santoro, who was murdered at Trebisonda.

The Order feels particularly close to our brothers in Turkey and to the entire Christian community in that country, and shares their sadness and horror at what has happened. May we all find support and consolation in the certainty that the Lord will reward our brother for his untiring dedication to his Church and for all that he has done for the Capuchin Order. May he rest in peace.

Further information: MISNA

ROME The fraternity of the International College of St Lawrence of Brindisi gathered on June 8th to celebrate a memorial Mass for Mgr Luigi Padovese, Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia, who was murdered on June 3rd. There were not only brothers from the various fraternities in Rome, but also many religious sisters and lay people who were linked to Mgr. Padovese by friendship and gratitude. Presiding at the ceremony was Archbishop Edmond Farhat, former Apostolic Nuncio in Turkey and first co-consecrator at Bishop Padovese’s Episcopal ordination. In his homily, Br. Felice Cangelosi said of our late confrere: “His life was a door and not a wall: often under escort, yet free to proclaim the gospel in an arid land … May the Word of God for this Tuesday of week X in ordinary time enlighten our darkness, as we remember that Luigi sowed the seed of that word by the handful, through his intense activity and generosity. May it spur us on to be truly the light of the world and the salt of the earth, as we play our part in the transformation of society according to gospel values and build a civilisation of love”.

The Franciscan Institute of Spirituality at the Pontifical Antonianum University will remember Mgr. Luigi Padovese with a special Mass on Friday June 18th at 11 a.m. in the church of St. Anthony in via Merulana.