The announcement of the discovery of a body believed to be that of Jesuit Father Paolo Dall’Oglio has prompted church officials in Syria, including the apostolic nuncio, to urge prudence as investigations continue.

News of the possible discovery of the priest’s body was first announced by Bishop Antranig Ayvazian of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Kamichlié, located in northern Syria, in an audio message published June 3 by the Italian news site Oggi.

Bishop Ayvazian said the body was found in “a cemetery in the village of Furusiyya in Raqqa,” and according to him, “A group of specialists departed from Raqqa and were able to identify” the body as that of the priest.

However, key church officials, including Cardinal Mario Zenari, the apostolic nuncio to Syria, and Bishop Hanna Jallouf,

See Full Page