Card Zenari says no confirmation that Fr Dall’Oglio’s remains found
At present, nothing is certain, the apostolic nuncio to Syria told AsiaNews after some reports began circulating regarding the possible discovery of a body in a mass grave near Raqqa, dressed in religious clothing like those of the Jesuit clergyman. Even the family has doubts. For Bishop Mourad, “There is nothing certain, except that the figure of Fr Paolo is still very important and alive among Syrian Christians.”
Milan (AsiaNews) – Yesterday, the body of a man wearing religious clothing was brought out of a mass grave in al-Furusiya, a village near Raqqa (Syria), once a stronghold of the Islamic State.
The remains could be those of an Italian Jesuit who went missing on 29 July 2013, while trying to negotiate the release of some hostages. But voices of caution both in Syria and Italy warn against hasty claims.
“I am not able to confirm whether or not the reports are true,” said Card Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria, speaking to AsiaNews, reacting to news stories suggesting the body found was that of Fr Paolo Dall’Oglio, SJ.
"For 13 years I have been dealing with the fate of Father Paolo Dall'Oglio and I am not so quick to believe any reports right away,” explained the cardinal.
The original story is attributed to a Catholic source in Qamishli, northern Syria, which was eventually picked up by some media outlets. Details remain sketchy and nothing will be certain until a positive post-mortem identification is made.
In Rome (Italy), the Prosecutor's Office, which has jurisdiction over the case, is equally cautious, saying that "it does not appear" to be the clergyman’s body. Fr Paolo’s sister, Francesca Dall'Oglio, also has doubts, because her brother used to travel in civilian clothes, not religious garb as announced.
AsiaNews also reached Mgr Jacques Mourad, Syriac Catholic archbishop of Homs, Hama and Dabek, a member of the Mar Musa community founded by Fr Paolo Dall'Oglio and himself a hostage of the Islamic State in 2015, then freed after more than four months.
“At the moment there are no certainties about the discovery, only rumours on social media; for this reason, we cannot guarantee their reliability,” he said. Of course, it would be “important” to give “certain answers” to Syrian Christians about the fate of the man religious, one of the more than 100,000 people who disappeared during the Syrian conflict and still missing.
“We must maintain an attitude of caution, because we cannot build a story based on a social media post,” said the prelate. “There are no clear elements, no names, no international organisations that can guarantee its reliability. There is nothing certain, except that the figure of Fr Paolo is still very important and alive among Syrian Christians, who would like to know what happened to him.”
Fr Paolo Dall’Oglio, a member of the Society of Jesus, is the founder of the community of Deir Mar Musa al-Habashio, northern Syria, about 80 kilometres from Damascus.
Born in Rome in 1954, he would have turned 70 last 17 November. He has spent years as a missionary in the Arab country, and disappeared on 29 July 2013 without leaving a trace. Over the years, stories related to his fate have appeared but none have ever proved reliable.
Remembering his mission, the apostolic nuncio described him as a “courageous voice”, one whose absence is sorely felt, who “probably irked someone” and for this reason was silenced.
The last thing known about of the Italian-born clergyman led to Raqqa, at the time a stronghold of the Caliphate in Syria.
A charismatic figure in Islamic-Christian dialogue, he disappeared on the night between 28 and 29 July 2013 after visiting the Islamic State headquarters to plead for the release of several hostages – including Christians – held by the group.
Like him, two prelates from Aleppo are also missing, Syriac Orthodox Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Bishop Boulos Yaziji, whose whereabouts are unknown since 22 April 2013, after they were seized in the town of Kafr Dael.
According to some witnesses, they were trying to obtain the release of Frs Michel Kayyal and Maher Mahfouz, kidnapped in February of that same year. When they reached a checkpoint, their car was flanked by armed men who shot and killed the driver.
Fr Jihad Youssef, who now leads the Mar Musa community, spoke at a meeting last year held at the PIME Centre in Milan about Fr Dall'Oglio’s path and legacy in Syria, highlighting his still relevant message of outreach and testimony.
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