«I give praise to God for the witness, that is, for the martyrdom, of this witness of charity towards the poorest.»
This is how Pope Francis remembered Father Roberto Malgesini, murdered yesterday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Como, Italy.
The Pontiff’s comments came toward the conclusion of his weekly Wednesday General Audience, held in the presence of faithful in the Courtyard of San Damaso within the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
«I would like to recall at this moment Don Roberto Malgesini, the priest of the diocese of Como who was killed yesterday morning by a person in need,» Francis began.
This person, which news sources have identified as a Tunisian migrant will mental illness, Pope Francis said «Don Malgesini himself helped,» noting the perpetrator was «a person who was mentally ill.»
«I join,» he said, «the pain and the prayers of his family and the community of Como and, as his Bishop said, I give praise to God for the witness, that is, for the martyrdom, of this witness of charity towards the poorest.»
«Let us pray in silence,» the Holy Father asked, «for Don Roberto Malgesini and for all the priests, nuns, lay people, lay people who work with people in need and [that] are rejected by society. »
After greeting Italian faithful, the Pope addressed the elderly, young people, the sick and newlyweds. Recalling the Church’s recent celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Pope Francis prayed: «May the Cross, a sign of faith in Christ, be a comfort and an image of unshakable hope for all. «
