Pope’s condolences for murdered Italian missionary in the Philippines

(October 20, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI has expressed profound sorrow over the death of Italian missionary priest Fr. Fausto Tentorio, murdered on Monday in the southern Philippines, commending his tireless and courageous service to the Filipino people. Writing on behalf of the Pope, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a message to Filipino Bishop Romulo de la Cruz of Kidapawan, where Fr. Tentorio, a priest of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) worked, describing the slain missionary as “a good and faithful priest who tirelessly and courageously served the Filipino people for many years.” The 59-year old missionary was slain by a gunman on Monday in his parish of Arakan town. The motive for the murder is not clear but Fr. Tentorio who came to the Philippines in 1978 was campaigning to preserve the environment and protecting indigenous people against corporate mining and exploitation. While conveying his condolences to Kidapawan diocese and Fr. Tentorio’s family and congregation, the Pope called “for the renunciation of violence and the building of a just and peaceful society where all live together in harmony.”