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Pope says murder of bishop Padovese can not be attributed to Turkey or its people

05 June 2010 04:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Pope Benedict XVI said the murder of Vatican’s apostolic vicar for Anatolia, Bishop Luigi Padovese in Iskenderun could not be attributed to Turkey or its people, APA reports quoting turkishny.com web-page.

Pope who spoke to Italian news Agency Ansa, on the plane to Southern Cyprus on Friday said the murder of Padovese was not politically motivated.
"The information at hand on the matter is limited. However I am sure that this incident is not politically or religiously motivated. This is a personal incident. We are waiting it to be clarified," said the Pope.
Pope Benedict urged Catholics to be patient, noting that the incident should not cast a shadow on the dialogue with Islam and the purpose of his visit.
He said he was sorry because Padovese could not attend his trip to Southern Cyprus.
Bishop Padovese was stabbed to death in his summer mansion in Iskenderun town of the southern province of Hatay. He lost his life en route to hospital.
Murat A, Padovese’s driver for the last four and a half years, was arrested on charges of killing the Catholic bishop, shortly after the murder.