DECR chairman’s condolences over the tragic death of Mgr. Luigi Padovese, President of the Catholic Episcopal Conference in Turkey

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, has sent to the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone a message of condolences over the tragic death of Bishop Luigi Padovese who was assassinated on June 3 in Iskenderun, Turkey. Below is the full text of the message.

To: The Most Reverend Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone

Secretary of State

Vatican

Your Eminence,

With profound sorrow I have learnt about the cruel assassination of the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Turkey Mgr. Luigi Padovese.

Please accept my sincerest condolences over the tragic death of the respected hierarch and zealous pastor who selflessly carried out his service in a difficult situation. The death of Mgr. Luigi Padovese, along with the murder of Rev. Andrea Santoro in Turkish Trabzon during the celebration of the mass in 2006, is another sacrificial testimony to Risen Christ.

I would like to express my condolences to pastors and the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church in Turkey who have suffered a great loss and wish them spiritual strength and God’s help in these mournful days.

I pray to the Almighty God that He may give rest to the soul of the slain servant of the Church of Christ in the dwelling of the righteous and that Christians in Turkey may be strengthened in their faithfulness to the gospel’s truth.

With love in the Lord,

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate

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DECR chairman’s condolences over the tragic death of Mgr. Luigi Padovese, President of the Catholic Episcopal Conference in Turkey

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons