15th anniversary of Italian priest's martyrdom

It has been 15 years since Fr. Andrea Santoro was shot and killed by a gunman in his church in Trabzon, Turkey. In advance of the Italian priest’s anniversary, Aid to the Church Need spoke with Fr. Andrea’s friend, Cardinal Enrico Feroci.

By ACN Staff

The funeral of Fr. Andrea Santoro. (Credit: Cristian Gennari)

On 5th February 2006, Fr. Andrea Santoro was shot and killed in Trabzon, Turkey. Fr. Andrea was kneeling in prayer at his church when he was shot and killed by a 16-year-old Islamist. The priest was hit by two bullets. One to his liver and one to his heart. Fr. Andrea Santoro was 60-years-old when he was murdered. The priest was from Italy and had volunteered to go to Turkey in 2000 to minister to the small Catholic community in Trabzon. Fr. Andrea was born in 1945 in Priverno in the Lazio region of Italy, close to Rome. In 1970, Fr. Andrea was ordained in Rome and began ministry in a parish on the outskirts of the Eternal City.

Fr. Andrea Santoro. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

On the 15th anniversary of the martyrdom of Fr. Andrea, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) spoke with Cardinal Enrico Feroci. The Italian cardinal had known Fr. Andrea and was friends with him. The cardinal said of him:

“I remember him with particular affection. I had a long-standing friendship with him.”

The two men had gotten to know each other while in Rome, with both having spent extended periods of their lives in the city. In fact, Cardinal Feroci had seen Fr. Andrea just four days before his death. Fr. Andrea had been in Rome and was returning to Turkey. Cardinal Feroci speaks of the last time he saw his friend:

“I had accompanied him to Fiumicino airport here in Rome, and we said goodbye. It was the last embrace of my friend before he left for Turkey.”

Fr. Andrea Santoro. (Credit: Cristian Gennari)

Cardinal Feroci said that Fr. Andrea was very committed and keen to serve the Middle Eastern Church. The Italian priest believed it was very important for the Church of Rome, as the head Church, to show respect and give support to the Church in the Middle East, the birthplace of Christianity. While in Trabzon, Fr. Andrea had spent time working with the local Muslim population to improve relations.

When Cardinal Feroci heard of his friend’s death he was saddened, but still maintained hope. In the cardinal’s own words:

“I believe in what our forefathers used to say, ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity.’ I believe that the profound witness of faith of Fr. Andrea’s priestly life – lived in respect and love of neighbours – will bear fruits of opening, in the sense that people will be more willing to listen to the Word of God and to serve their brothers and sisters.”