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Pope Francis’ letter to the local Bishop on the occasion of the 30th anniversary
of the killing of Fr. Giuseppe (Joseph) Diana on Solemnity of St. Joseph, 19th March,
by The Camorra – a powerful criminal organization originating in Naples
- “On the morning of March 19, 1994, Don Peppino was in the church of San Nicola, in Casal di Principe.
It was his name day, the feast of St. Joseph, (Giuseppe in Italian, or Peppino for short).
He had not yet put on his priestly cassock and was in the meeting room next to his study.
They entered the church, silently walking through the nave. Not seeing a man dressed as a priest, they hesitated. ‘Who is Don Peppino?’ ‘I am’. One pointed his semiautomatic at him.
Five shots: two hit him in the face, the others struck his head, neck and hand.
Don Peppino Diana was 36 years old.” (from La Civiltà Cattolica)
To Angelo Spinillo, Bishop of Aversa
The memory of the tragic event that took place thirty years ago, when Don Giuseppe Diana, parish priest of St. Nicholas of Bari in Casal di Principe, was barbarously murdered, on the morning of March 19, 1994, arouses, in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. emotion as well as gratitude to God the Father for having given to the Church this “good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:14), who worked prophetically by descending into the existential desert of a people so dear to him, served and defended to the point of sacrificing his own existence.
I therefore wish to address a fatherly thought to the entire diocesan community and especially to the faithful of the parish of Casal di Principe who, in remembering Don Peppe, as he was affectionately called, wish to live his own hope of walking together, embodying Christian prophecy, which invites us to build a world free from the yoke of evil and from every kind of criminal arrogance.
My gratitude also goes to those who continue the pastoral work begun by Fr Diana as spiritual assistant to associations and groups of the faithful, especially young people and realities linked to the Scouts.
I express my closeness and encouragement to all of you who, guided by the prophetic proclamation: “For the love of my people…“(Is 62:1), persevere on the path marked out by Don Diana and, with daily commitment, patiently cultivate the seeds of justice and the dream of human and social development for your country.
Even today, the sad story of Cain’s first fratricide against his brother Abel is repeated in Scripture (cf. Gen 4:8). This tragic story retains its relevance when one man raises his hand to strike another, as happens in the many forms of hatred and abuse that wound human beings and sometimes bathe the streets of our neighborhoods and cities in blood.
Therefore, the memory of Don Giuseppe’s sacrifice inspires us to rekindle in ourselves that evangelical restlessness which animated his priesthood and which led him without hesitation to contemplate the face of the Father in every brother and sister, to witness to those who feel wounded of God’s plan, so that each one may live in justice, peace and freedom.
In the face of that violence and inhuman arrogance that deny justice and deny the dignity of the human persons, Christians are those who proclaim the Gospel and live the vocation of being, with Christ, the sign of a new humanity, made fruitful by fraternity and communion.
Already in 1982, this awareness led the Bishops of Campania to “raise their voices of denunciation and and to proclaim with vigour the project of the new man, created by God in justice and truth (cf. Eph 4:24 – and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.) … and to underline the sharp contrast that exists between the false messages of the Camorra and the message of Jesus Christ“
(Campania Episcopal Conference, For the love of my people I will not be silent, 1982).
At the same time, we feel strongly the relevance of the words spoken by Don Peppe Diana at Christmas 1991, together with the parish priests of the pastoral area of Casal di Principe, pronounced: “As baptized in Christ, as pastors… God calls us to be prophets. The Prophet acts as a watchman: he sees injustice, denounces it and recalls God’s original plan (cf. Ezek 3:16-18)” (Forania di Casal di Principe, For the Love of My People, 1991).
On this important anniversary of the murder of this courageous disciple of the Master, I invite you to strengthen your faith and hope in God’s truth, to accept his Word and to cherish your determination to build a society, finally purified from the shadows of sin, capable of daring a future of harmony and fraternity.
Before concluding, moved by feelings of trust, I exhort you, young people, the beautiful and clear face of this land: do not let yourselves be robbed of hope, cultivate high ideals and build a different future with hands not stained with blood but with honest work, without yielding to easy but illusory compromises, taking up the spiritual heritage of Don Peppe in order to become, in turn, artisans of peace.
Entrusting all of you everyone to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the intercession of Saint Joseph, a just man and a tender father, I cordially bless you, asking you not to forget to pray for me.
Fraternally, Francis
Rome, from St. John Lateran, 19 March 2024
Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M.
Patron of the Universal Church
