picture courtesy of asianews.
According to a number of sources Bishop Luigi Padovese OFM Cap., Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia (Turkey), was murdered, allegedly by his driver, at his home in Iskenderun a day before he was due to fly to Cyprus to join in the historic visit of the Holy Father to that island.
Born in Milan, Italy in 1947, Bishop Luigi joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1964 and was ordained in 1973. He taught patristics at the Antonianum (where in held the chair in that subject and was director of their Spiritual Institute) in Rome and also at the Gregorianum and Alfonsiamum and for ten years he was visitator for the Congregation for the Oriental Churches to the Oriental College in Rome. He was consecrated titular Bishop of Monteverde in 2004 and since 2007 has been president of the bishop's conference. His motto was In caritate veritas. Details of his life from the Capuchin Order.
His death is a loss not just to the Church in Turkey but to the Order too. Martyrdom can come at any time but this is more true of those who serve in places such as Turkey where extremism is on the rise and targeting Christians, especially clergy. May he rest in peace.
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