AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Catholic priest found dead in his home in Caracas

Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - The Archbishop of Caracas has announced the tragic death of Fr Pedro Daniel Orellana Hidalgo, aged 50, found dead in his home early on Sunday January 6. The priest's body showed evident signs of strangulation and bruises, he was gagged and his hands were tied. The apartment was in disorder and personal objects were missing. The priest, originally from Caracas, served for many years in the archdiocese of Cumanà. After returning to Caracas he worked in church administration and taught at Ucsar and then at Unefa (Universidad Nacional Experimental de la Fuerza Armada). At present he had no ecclesiastical duties and celebrated Mass at the parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the city's El Rosal district. When the priest failed to arrive to say Mass on Sunday 6, which was also the anniversary of his mother's death, his relations with whom he had spoken on the telephone the day before, went to his apartment in the Manzanares district of the capital of Venezuela, where they found the door half open and priest dead. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/1/2008; righe 12, parole 172)