A Bishop and situated in Turkey has died in hospital after being found stabbed at his home early Thursday.

Luigi Padovese the bishop of Anatolia and Hatay province, in the city of Iskenderun, Northern Turkey has died of his injuries in hospital after being found in a pool of blood at his home.

It was alleged that the Hatay bishop was stabbed by his chauffeur named only as Murat and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition early Thursday morning.

It was later announced that the Bishop who was the spiritual leader of Catholics in Iskenderun and the pope’s apostolic vicar in Anatolia had died from his injuries.

Last Minute update – The man who allegedly stabbed Luigi Padovese has been arrested by Turkish police. Who has been identified as Murat A was the driver of the Bishop.

Murat A had been the private chauffeur of Padovese for 4.5 years.

The Hatay governor, Mehmet Celalettin Lekesiz spoke of his sorrow over the loss of Luigi Padovese and stated that the assailant was caught by the Iskenderun police with the weapon used to kill the Bishop, after a city wide manhunt.

Governor Lekesiz said to Turkish media “We know Padovese very closely, his death is very upsetting. The assailant has been caught with the murder weapon. From initial investigation, the attack is not related to politics. We have found out that the assailant has psychological problems and was taking treatment. It looks as though the murder of Padovese was a personal matter. The incident is being investigated thoroughly.”

Padovese was assigned as the Bishop of Iskenderun in November 8th 2004 at a ceremony in the Iskenderun Catholic Church that a representative of the Venerable Pope John Paul II had also attended.

He had condemned Israel

Bishop Padovese was also took part in the opening ceremony of the newly restored Süryani Church at Hatay, Iskenderun just two day ago spoke of his grief for the death of the six soldiers in Turkey on Monday and condemned the attack by Israeli soldier on the Turkish led Flotilla Aid ships.

At the speech he made during the ceremony he had talked of his love and satisfaction of the peace and harmony at Iskenderun.

Padovese said “We greet restoration of this Church with great gratitude and a symbol of the governments support for various religions and cults being practice in Turkey.”

Anatolian Bishop
The Bishop of Anatolia covers almost the entire half of the Eastern side of Turkey, an area of 480.000 Km2. It covers areas from the Mediterranean sea to the Black sea and from Ankara to the Iraqi border.

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