2006-02-19 For five years, Father Andrea Santoro
February 19, 2006
For five years, Father Andrea Santoro of the Diocese of Rome served as
a missionary in Trabzon, on the Black Sea in Turkey. His small parish
consisted largely of Georgian immigrants, the area being 99 percent
Muslim. On January 31 of this year he sent a letter from three of the
women in his parish of St. Mary’s, to Pope Benedict who was Father
Santoro’s own bishop, as Bishop of Rome:
“Dear Papa,Father Santoro attached his own message to the letter:
“We greet you in the name of all Georgians. We ask God to give you health in the name of Jesus. We are very happy that God chose you as pope. Pray for us, for the poor, for the miserable all over the world, for children. We believe your prayers reach God directly. Georgians are very poor, they have debts, they have no homes or work. We are without strength.
“At present we live in Trabzon and work. Pray that God will bless and create in us a new and pure heart. We do not forget the Christian life and we try to be a good example for Turks in the name of God so that through us they will see and glorify God.
“We have many things to say and recount, but Inshalla [God willing], if you come to Trabzon, we will be able to speak face to face. Your coming will be a joyful celebration. We pray and hope that God will give you health, peace and a Christian life. We kiss your hands. We will be happy if you reply and send us a photo with your signature.
“Maria, Marina, and Maria”
“Holiness:Days after writing this, Father Santoro was praying after Mass when a 16-year-old Muslim boy shot him in the head. His body was returned to Rome where a solemn Requiem Mass was offered in the Pope’s own cathedral of St. John Lateran, attended by a great throng of bishops and the faithful. Such a holy martyrdom gets little publicity in our secular media, but it is one more glory of the Church. When, “Inshalla,” Pope Benedict goes to Turkey in November as Vicar of Christ, exercising his universal pastorate to believers and unbelievers alike, surely Father Andrea Santoro will be among the invisible company of the holy ones at the altar singing with the Pope the Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus.
“I join these three women to truly invite you to visit us. It is a small flock, as Jesus said, which tries to be salt, leaven and light on this earth. A visit of yours, even if brief, would be a consolation and encouragement, If God wills . . . nothing is impossible for God.
“I greet you and thank you for everything. Your books served me as nourishment during my theology studies. Bless me. And may God bless and assist you.
“Don Andrea Santoro”
Fr. George W. Rutler
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