Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Istanbul (Agenzia Fides) - Fr. George Marovitch, Spokesman of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey on the telephone from Istanbul, said the small Catholic community in Turkey was deeply shocked by the murder of Italian missionary Fr Andrea Santoro: “We are all deeply saddened by the death of Fr Andrea, shot dead in the small Catholic church in Trabzon in the Vicariate Apostolic of Anatolia, where the Vicar Apostolic is Italian Bishop Luigi Padovese, OFM Capuchin. The Bishop is in Trabzon at present in constant contact with the local authorities and police. Messages of sympathy and solidarity keep arriving at the Bishops’ Conference offices sent by local civil and religious authorities, Orthodox Christians and Muslims”.
Fr. George says there is concern in the local community: “We are waiting for the results of the police investigation, to know the motive behind the murder. The youth could have acted on his own, an insane isolated gesture. Or it could be the effect of the wave of hatred and fundamentalism which is shaking Arab countries since the publication in a Danish newspaper of cartoons offending the Prophet Mohammed. However the priest’s murder may also have to do with the local prostitution racket which Fr Andrea was fighting. In fact he had offered a number of local girls protection and assistance to escape sex slavery. His murder may have been a reaction to this anti-prostitution commitment”.
The spokesman continued: “It is indeed a sad day for the Church in Turkey. We have received message of sympathy and solidarity from civil and religious authorities. National leaders have condemned the crime and promised to guarantee Christians more protection. With regard to the cartoons Turkish prime minister Erdogan said there is no justification for violence and he voiced his concern for the death of the Catholic priest. Orthodox Christians assured us of their full support. Local Muslim leaders condemned the assassination, recalling that according to Islam when a man kills another man it is as if he had killed all humanity”.
Fr. George has personal memories of Fr Andrea: “He came now and then to Istanbul, and visited us here at the Bishops Conference offices. He liked to pray in the chapel where Mgr Angelo Roncalli (later Pope John XXIII) prayed when he was here in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. Fr Andrea lived in his little mission in Trazbon and was a man of dialogue and peace. He was loved by the local people for all the good he did. The local Catholic community consists of about a dozen Catholics but his Church was open and used by Orthodox Christians and by Muslims. Fr Andrea was always ready to listen to everyone and helped all without distinction”.
With regard to the present situation in Turkey Fr George said: “I would say there is uncertainty and tension, but not fear because we have excellent relations of contact and dialogue with the civil authorities and with Muslim leaders. Fr Andrea’s funeral will be in Rome. Here as the local Church we will organise commemoration prayer service and other religious leaders have assured us of their presence”.
“I do not think the assassination of Fr Andrea - Fr George concluded - will have political or other consequences: the government will make sure the situation does not degenerate. For our part we are certain the Lord will turn this evil into good for Turkey and for the small Catholic community here”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/2/2006 righe 32 parole 326)
