Two masked assailants opened fire at a Catholic church in Istanbul, Turkey, during Sunday morning Mass on 28 January reportedly killing one person during the consecration.
The Vicar Apostolic of Istanbul, Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, said that a man was killed “during the consecration” in the attack on St. Mary’s Church in the Sariyer district of Istanbul.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the attack occurred around 11:40 local time and that “a full-scale investigation” has been launched as authorities work to arrest the attackers.
The minister said a man, referred to only as CT, was “the target of a gun attack and lost his life.” “We strongly condemn this vile attack,” Yerlikaya said.
Video footage of the attack obtained by EWTN News shows two gunmen dressed in black following another white-haired man as he walked toward the church and shooting him in the back of the head. Parishioners took cover under the pews after the shots were fired.
It is not clear from the video whether the attackers continued shooting while pointing their weapons in various directions before leaving the temple.
For his part, Bishop Palinuro said that the victim “was shot inside the church during the consecration while the entire congregation was praying.”
“We do not know the reason… we have to wait to understand why this tragedy occurred, it occurred in the church during Mass,” the apostolic vicar reiterated.
The bishop has asked the faithful to pray for the victims and for the Catholic Church in Turkey. “We are worried about the future, because if this is a sign of religious intolerance, for our community it could be a bad sign. Let us pray,” he expressed.
There are about 25,000 Catholics living in Turkey, including African and Filipino immigrants, according to a 2022 report from the US State Department.
Upon learning of the attack, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the Catholic minority after praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.
“I express my closeness to the community of the church of Saint Mary Draperis in Istanbul, which suffered an armed attack during Mass that left one dead and several injured,” said the Pontiff.