One Year On (Cardinal Ruini in Turkey, celebrates 1st Anniversary of death of Fr. Andrea Santoro)

WITL ^ | February 5, 2007

[NYer]

In Trabzon, Turkey, along the Black Sea, today marks a year since the parish priest Don Andrea Santoro was murdered by a group of local youth.

In the small church of Sancta Maria where Santoro -- a priest of Rome on loan to the small Catholic community -- was gunned down, a memorial Mass was held, celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the papal vicar for Rome, who traveled to Turkey with the late cleric's mother, sisters and uncle to commemorate the anniversary.

Said Cardinal Ruini yesterday, "Santoro['s] death has greatly saddened us, but he was a gift to the Roman Church from God. Because of Santoro, the list of people who have given their lives for God has grown richer."

Don Andrea's death sparked a national outcry in his native land. He was given a state funeral in St John Lateran (also celebrated by Ruini) and his cause for beatification was promptly opened.

Given the significance of the papal trip to Turkey in November and the concerns for the Pope's safety that proceded it, Benedict XVI's intent in proceeding with it, even adding a day to his schedule amid the pre-visit controversy, was likely underpinned by the Santoro story. "Let us sing joyfully," the pontiff said in his homily for the local fold at Mary's House at Ephesus, "even when we are tested by difficulties and dangers, as we have learned from the fine witness given by the Roman priest Don Andrea Santoro."

Six days before Santoro's death, the Pope received a letter from the priest, which he subsequently read publicly at his general audience three days after the news broke.

It's reproduced below in its original Whispers translation.

Your Holiness,

I write you in the name of the Georgian women of my parish, "Santa Maria" in Trabzon (Trebisonda) on the Black Sea in Turkey. They've dictated to me in Turkish, I've translated and sent it from their mouth so you could have it in time for my coming to Rome. I am Don Andrea Santoro, a "Fidei donum" [gift of Faith] priest of the church of Rome in Turkey, in the diocese of Anatolia, and have been here for five years. My flock is made up of 8 or 9 Catholics, many Orthodox of the city and the Muslims who form 99 percent of the population. It would be, Holiness, that as the bishop of my diocese of departure (Rome) so are you the bishop of my diocese of arrival from the from the moment it was called a "Vicariate apostolic." And it's to this double title that I deliver the letter of the three Georgians.

"DEAR PAPA,
In the name of all the Georgians we greet you.
We ask God for your greeting in the name of Jesus.
We're so happy that God chose you as Pope. Pray for us, for the poor, for the troubled ones of all the world, for the children. We believe that your prayers go directly to God. The Georgians are very poor, in debt, without homes and without work. We're without strength.
We're living in Trabzon right now and working. Pray that God blesses us and creates in us a new and clean heart. We won't forget the Christian life and for the Turks we seek to be a good example in God's name so that, through us, they may see and glorify God.
We have many things to say and tell but, Inshallah [Arabic for "God willing"], if you come to Trabzon we can speak face to face. Your coming will be a joyous feast. We ask of God and we wish you good health, peace and the life of Christ. We kiss your hands. We will be happy if you can respond to us and send us an autographed photo. As our common father, pray for Don Andrea and Loredana, that God may give them strength and that, through them, the church may grow and multiply at Trabzon.
Maria, Marina and Maria."
In the name of the other Georgian Christians, we invite you to Trabzon for your coming visit to Turkey in November.

Holiness,
I unite myself to these three women in inviting you to come among us. It is a small flock, as Jesus said, but one that seeks to be salt, leaven and light on this earth. One visit from you, however quick, would be a consolation and encouragement for them. If God wishes it... for God nothing is impossible.
I greet you and thank you for everything. Your books were nourishment for me during my theology studies. Bless me. And may God bless and assist you.

Don Andrea Santoro
Priest "Fidei donum" of the diocese of Rome in Turkey,
diocese of Anatolia, city of Trabzon on the Black Sea,
Church of "Sancta Maria".

[NYer]

Cardinal Camillo Ruini (C) conducts a service to commemorate Roman Catholic priest Andrea Santoro on the first anniversary of his death in Santa Maria Church in Turkey's Black Sea city of Trabzon February 5, 2007.

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Maria Polselli (R), mother of slain Roman Catholic priest Andrea Santoro is escorted by her daughter Imelda Santoro (L) during a service to commemorate Santoro on the first anniversary of his death in Santa Maria Church in Turkey's Black Sea city of Trabzon February 5, 2007.

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Necmiye Akdin (L) and Hikmet Akdin (2nd L), parents of the murderer of Roman Catholic priest Andrea Santoro, arrive at Santa Maria Church in Turkey's Black Sea city of Trabzon February 5, 2007, to attend a service commemorating Santoro on the first anniversary of his death as police officers guard the gate.

[NYer]

Cardinal Camillo Ruini (C) greets attendees during a service to commemorate Roman Catholic priest Andrea Santoro on the first anniversary of his death in Santa Maria Church in Turkey's Black Sea city of Trabzon February 5, 2007. Ruini is flanked by Santoro's mother Maria Polselli (2nd L), sisters Maddelena Santoro (2nd R) and Imelda Santoro (L) and Arcbishop Luigi Padovese (R). Italian priest Santoro was killed in his church by a teenager last year. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY)

[trisham]

Andrea Santoro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Father Andrea Santoro was a 61 year-old Catholic priest who was murdered on February 5, 2006 in the Santa Maria Church in Trabzon, Turkey, where he served as a member of the Catholic church's Fidei donum missionary program. He was shot dead from behind while kneeling in prayer in the church. A witness heard the perpetrator shouting "Allahu Akbar".[1] A 16-year-old high school student was arrested two days after the shooting carrying a 9mm pistol. The student told police he had been influenced by the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.[2] The murder was preceded by massive anti-christian propaganda in the turkish popular press.[3]

On October 10, 2006, the accused Oðuzhan Akdin was sentenced to 18 years and ten months in jail for "premeditated murder" by a court in Ankara.[4] According to the apostolic vicar to Anatolia, Msgr. Luigi Padovese, neither the killer nor his mother showed any remorse during the trial. She even compared her son to Mehmet Ali Aðca, who tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, and said that his deed "was committed in the name of Allah and was a gift to the state and the nation".[5] As the murderer of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink also came from Trabzon and also under 18 years of age, Turkish police is investigating possible connections between the slayings of Santoro and Dink.[6]

At Don Santoro's funeral at the Basilica of St. John Lateran Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the vicar of the Diocese of Rome, mentioned in his homily that the possible beatification process for Don Santoro may be opened after February 2011.

Of course, Wikipedia has its detractors.

[NYer]

Thanks for the post! It never occured to me that Fr. Santoro's story would be in Wikipedia.

[trisham]

You're welcome! I was really surprised to see this: According to the apostolic vicar to Anatolia, Msgr. Luigi Padovese, neither the killer nor his mother showed any remorse during the trial. She even compared her son to Mehmet Ali Aðca, who tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, and said that his deed "was committed in the name of Allah and was a gift to the state and the nation"

after seeing the picture of her on her way to the service.

[marshmallow]

Very moving.

The faith has always needed martyrs in order for it to spread. May Santoro's death be the seed which produces abundant fruit in Turkey.

[siunevada]

Antioch posted an article from Asia Times which I found very moving:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1779313/posts

[Kolokotronis]

I wonder how many more martyrs for The Faith will fall in Turkey? I know our Most Merciful God will give this martyr rest in that place of refreshment we have been promised until the Last Day when his crown will be waiting for him!