Just after finishing up my blog post about the upcoming papal visit to Cyprus, I read the news of the murder of Bishop Luigi Padovese, Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia in Turkey. He was stabbed to death in his house in the south of Turkey, by his chauffeur. The murderer is said to have had psychological problems for some time and was in therapy. Turkish authorities say he was arrested soon after the murder.
Msgr. Padovese was to take part in the events of the papal visit to Cyprus. Born in 1947 in Milan, Italy, and a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, he was ordained a priest in 1973. In 2004 he was appointed to the vicariate of Anatolia. As such he was the chairman of the Turkish conference of bishops. Bishop Padovese was 57.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord
In Caelo et in Terra 