Luigi Padovese, the bishop from Italy who was murdered by his driver was mourned earlier this month during a funeral mass in Milan. The Bishop was said to have been killed by his driver after receiving instructions through a revelation inspired by a perceived supernatural force.
Investigators who are currently still looking into the case of the murdered Bishop were horrified when Murat Altun came forward claiming he had performed the killing after a “revelation” instructed him to do so according to the missionary news agency. Pope Benedict XVI addressed audiences declaring that he was troubled by the death of the Bishop, saying the “unexpected and tragic death has left us dismayed.” Conflicting reports suggest the Bishop was stabbed fatally in his mansion on the third of June and later died in transit to Iskenderun. Still others suggest the murder took place in front of witnesses just outside the home. As the case is still under investigation prior to the trial many details are still unreleased. The murder is said to have religious significance not only because of the stature of the bishop, but also because witnesses announced that Murat Altun referred to Bishop Padovese as Satanic. The claim came as a shock to many who knew the bishop and said he was dedicated to his position and the wellbeing of those around him. The death is still sending shock waves through many religious foundations.
Bishop Padovese had known the driver personally for over four years, but during this time Altun was seen by psychiatrists for a range of psychological disorders. Reports vary, but there is a strong indication that Altun may have become delusional after a personal argument with Padovese and taken his life as a result of this delusion. Altun has been charged with murder and is currently awaiting trial. A report by the Telegraph suggests the bishop was decapitated by his assailant, but the story has since changed to stabbing. Furthermore, claims that the slaying could have been politically motivated have since been dropped.
The Foreign Ministry has declared the loss of Bishop Padovese as a tragic loss for religious scholars as he had written extensively on a range of topics of religious significance. He worked to unify churches within Turkey and outreach to charities and communities in the area. In 2006 Padovese was interviewed by the Associated Press where he declared that he was extremely concerned about a recent knife attack on a priest in the region, suggesting all priests in Turkey had to be careful as they faced several potential safety concerns.
Padovese was a professor of Patristics at the Pontifical University Antonianum for sixteen years, then was ordained in 1973 as a priest. In 2004 he was promoted to Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia and began working abroad as a missionary. As he is mourned, many use the death as a means of reminding those in religious positions to be careful while doing work abroad.