ASIA/TURKEY - Cardinal Ruini in Trabzon commemorates Fr Andrea Santoro on the first anniversary of his death: “We have come in the same spirit with which Rev Andrea came to be with you… We have come to help promote peace among peoples and religions, respect for the beliefs of each person and love for the brother or sister present in every human person created in the image and likeness of God”

Trabzon (Agenzia Fides) - “We have come to Trabzon to celebrate Holy Mass for Rev Andrea on the anniversary of his death here in this church of Santa Maria where he was killed while praying … we have come to render present the whole Church of Rome starting with its Bishop, the Pope, who made a memorable visit to Turkey only two months ago. We have come in a spirit of affection and gratitude for this Roman priest who was a faithful witness to Jesus Christ to the shedding of his blood.” With these words Cardinal Vicar, Camillo Ruini, started his homily at Mass celebrated in the Catholic parish of Saint Mary Trabzon, in Turkey where Rev. Andrea Santoro, fidei donum missionary from the diocese of Rome was murdered on February 5 last year. Cardinal Ruini was accompanied by secretary general of the Vicariate Mons. Mauro Parmeggiani, the mother, sisters and a cousin of Rev Andrea, and the parish priest of Sant’Ippolito parish in Rome. The mass was concelebrated by the apostolic nuncio to Turkey Archbishop Antonio Lucibello and the apostolic vicar of Anatolia, Archbishop Luigi Padovese,
In his homily Cardinal Ruini said: “We have come to help promote peace among peoples and religions, respect for the beliefs of each person and love for the brother or sister present in every human person created in the image and likeness of God. We have come to promote religious freedom everywhere in the world, and to ask God to illuminate all minds and hearts to understand that only in freedom and love of neighbour can God be truly adored.”
Cardinal Ruini said, Rev Andrea “came here to adore God in silence, listening to His Word, offering a humble welcome to all” and continued: “We have come with our hearts filled with grief for the death of Rev Andrea but filled with joy for the bright witness he gave to Jesus Christ and we are certain that his sacrifice will not be in vain”.
Commenting the readings of the Mass the Cardinal said “Rev Andrea, gifted by God with keen intelligence and a strong character, was well aware that God hides himself from those who rely on their own intelligence and wisdom and reveals himself instead to the humble ones”. St Paul the Apostle in the 1st letter to the Corinthians (1Cor 15,20-28) speaks of the Risen Lord: “He is the firstborn, of whose eternal fullness participate all who die united with him in faith and love, in the first place those who follow him more closely offering their life, as Rev Andrea did here in this church in Trabzon” Cardinal Ruini recalled and concluded encouraging those present to be witnesses of the joy and hope which come from the Resurrection of Jesus, following the example of Rev Andrea: “The Lord asks us to continue giving witness and he will give us the necessary inward strength to do so here in Trabzon and in Rome”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/2/2007, righe 34, parole 533)