Philippines: 15,000 mourners bid farewell to Fr Fausto Tentorio

More than 15,000 people came to to pay their last respects to murdered PIME missionary Fr Fausto Tentorio this week. Mgr Romulo de la Cruz, Bishop of Kidapawan oncelebrated his Requiem Mass with five other bishops this morning at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Kidapawan.

A prayer vigil began yesterday afternoon with the body of the missionary in the cathedral. There were prayers and songs throughout the night, and a Mass celebrated every three hours.

People from different dioceses of Mindanao came to the funeral: caravans and coaches transported more than 15 thousand people to Kidapawan, mostly tribal and indigenous people from the mountains and peasants. 70 priests and religious, the 20 PIME missionaries present in the Philippines (and the Superior General Fr Gian Battista Zanchi), hundreds of nuns, even the Italian Ambassador in Manila, Luca Fornari, and the governor of North Cotabato, Emmylou Talino attended the funeral.

After the celebration, a four mile long procession accompanied his body to the grave, next to the other PIME missionary, Fr Tullio Favali. The parade was also attended by activists of the movement "Justice for Father Pops" who carried banners.

Bishop De La Cruz told Fides: "We hope that the killers are identified and brought to justice, that they repent, ask forgiveness and undergo a conversion. We are confident that the mission of Fr. Fausto will continue and bear fruit. Our church will be strengthened by his martyrdom".

Fr Socrates Mesiona, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Philippines said Fr Tentorio was a "true missionary and a true martyr" ... "his death will not be in vain, but will feed the deep commitment to serve the poor and marginalized, in particular the tribal people and the indigenous in the country. Those who love him and knew him, as a man of peace, will continue to shout out for justice until it is obtained".

Source: Fides

See also:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJQeObPh7aY&feature=youtu.be