Fausto Tentorio

Fausto Tentorio (* 1952 in San Maria di Rovagnate , Lecco District , Italy ; † October 17, 2011 in Arakan , Cotabato , Mindanao , Philippines ) was a Catholic Italian priest, missionary and human rights activist . He was murdered because of his work for the poor and natives of Mindanao.

Life

Fausto Tentorio came from northern Italy. He was ordained a priest in 1978 and served as a priest of the community in Arakan Valley on the island of Mindanao from 1979 until his death. At the same time he was also a missionary for the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions ( PIME ).

His peaceful struggle was directed primarily against the mine operators and the large landowners on the island, who tried to drive out, intimidate or exploit the local farmers and indigenous peoples. He was extremely popular as a priest and also campaigned for literacy and educational programs, founded schools, kindergartens and health welfare institutions. He had the affectionate nickname "Father Pops" among the population. He had especially campaigned for the Lumad people .

Assassination, Burial, and Reactions

The priest was murdered in front of his church on October 17, 2011 by a masked stranger with two shots - one in the head and one in the back. A total of 8 shots were fired at him. The perpetrator has not yet been caught. Even before he was murdered, Tentorio had received several death threats. He was assassinated in 2003 , but without success.

On October 25, 2011, the funeral service and funeral of the popular priest who was known all over the Philippines took place. The main celebrant of the service was the bishop of the responsible diocese of Kidapawan , Romulo Tolentino de la Cruz . Another 5 bishops, 70 priests, 20 friars, several hundred nuns, the ambassador of Italy to the Philippines as well as the governor of the province of North Cotabato, Emilow Talino and the grand master of the order, Father Gian Battista Zanchi, as well as a good 15,000 people, mostly farmers, poor and members of indigenous tribes attended the funeral. In the three largest cities on the island ( Davao , Makilala and Kidapawan), a further 20,000 people lined the streets in his memory. In the cathedral "Norte Dame" in Kidapawan he was laid out until the burial; the funeral procession to the cemetery was 4 kilometers.

The Vatican responded with a statement made by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI. issued. In it the Pope expressed his shock over the murder of the missionary and expressed his condolences to the faithful, friars, family members and friends.

He was the third priest in the religious community to be murdered in Mindanao. So far it has hit his compatriots twice; 1985 Tullio Favali and 1992 Salvador Carzedda.

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• Fausto Tentorio - Pime.org
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