Giovedì 3 giugno è stato assassinato nella sua residenza a Iskenderun S.E. Mons. Luigi Padovese, O.F.M. Cap.,Vicario Apostolico di Anatolia e Presidente della Conferenza Episcopale della Turchia.

Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio inviato dal Santo Padre Benedetto XVI, tramite il Cardinale Segretario di Stato Tarcisio Bertone, al Nunzio Apostolico in Turchia, S.E. Mons. Antonio Lucibello:

DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE MURDER OF BISHOP LUIGI PADOVESE, VICAR APOSTOLIC OF ANATOLIA, THE HOLY FATHER ASKS YOU KINDLY TO CONVEY HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AND THE ASSURANCE OF HIS CLOSENESS IN PRAYER TO THE BISHOPS, PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE CHURCH IN TURKEY. HE JOINS ALL OF YOU IN COMMENDING THE NOBLE SOUL OF THIS BELOVED PASTOR TO THE INFINITE MERCY OF GOD OUR FATHER AND IN GIVING THANKS FOR THE SELFLESS WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL AND RESOLUTE COMMITMENT TO DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION WHICH CHARACTERIZED HIS PRIESTLY LIFE AND EPISCOPAL MINISTRY. UNITED WITH ALL WHO MOURN BISHOP PADOVESE IN THE HOPE WHICH DRAWS ITS CERTAINTY FROM THE RESURRECTION, HIS HOLINESS CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND STRENGTH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE

SECRETARY OF STATE

[00848-02.01] [Original text: English]