"This tragic event has fallen into oblivion, and I am a bit saddened by that. I learnt from some local sources that the boy was hospitalised in Adaba because of this ‘alleged’ mental condition of his, and that easy recovery is expected to take place, since nothing serious was diagnosed. Hopefully, the future will not be like that of don Andrea Santoro, that is, that everything will be as easily acquitted!”. Mgr. Ruggero Franceschini speaks from Smyrna, the diocese of which he is the archbishop, after that he was appointed by the Holy See head of the apostolic vicariate of Anatolia as well, following the tragic death of mgr. Luigi Padovese, murdered by his driver, Murat Altun, in Iskenderun on June 3rd. "We are at peace – he states in an interview with SIR –. I have found a strong Church after the first few storms, I have seen no animosity, forgiveness has been granted without any problems. We know that, for the Church to go on in these places, it will have to suffer again, but after the initial discouragement no one has thought of leaving, of going away. Now more than ever, they wish to stay and help". The archbishop of Smyrna has no doubts about the many assumptions made about the death of mgr. Padovese: “I regret that people have been stuffed with so many lies. I would be very sorry if the death of mgr. Padovese, an irreprehensible man, were to be dismissed as a crime of passion, as assumption which must absolutely ruled out, as also proven by scientific evidence. We also have to wipe out the person’s lability, although he was labile. It would be more helpful to try to understand why labile people, who would not be capable of such gestures on their own, are often used. I have some very personal ideas about other assumptions, but I will keep them to myself. The fact is, we are waiting to learn the truth about this death. Such a silent wait pains me". In the interview with SIR, mgr. Franceschini also speaks of the Church of Saint Paul in Tarsus and religious freedom, invoking mutuality “of good humane relationships”, and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Turkey.

© SIR - 14 july 2010