Italian bishop calls for reconciliation in response to murder of priest in Brazil

Bishop Piergiorgio Debernardi of Pinerolo is calling on Brazilians to show forgiveness over the murder of Father Guiseppe Bessone, a priest of his diocese who was doing pastoral work in the Brazilian town of Blumenau.

The Fides news agency reported that in a statement, Bishop Debernardi asked Brazilians to be forgiving, as “Forgiveness heals, restores health and renews society. Without forgiveness there can be no future of justice.”

According to police, Father Bessone was murdered during the night on September 2 in his parish house by a 16 year-old boy who was staying at the residence, possibly during a robbery attempt. 

Bishop Debernardi recalled Father Bessone as a “priest of unique humanity, totally dedicated to his ministry, loved by the people of his parish among whom succeeded in building a network of collaboration giving rise to a variety of ministries and services.”

Father Bessone was born in Bricherasio in 1943 and was ordained a priest on 25 June 1967. After exercising his ministry in Pinerolo for some years, in 1975 he set out for Brazil as a fidei donum priest to be assistant priest in Our Lady of Glory in Blumenau.

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