Don Roberto Malgesini, stabbed and murdered in Como “the priest of the last”. “Met the killer, lethal neck wound”

“Where is the gift? No, it can’t be him. ” Disbelief and discouragement surprised the foreign community in Como as they woke up when news of Don’s murder began to circulate. Roberto Malgesini, 51, known as “The priest of the last” for their strong commitment to give assistance to migrants and marginalized people. At 7 in the morning, according to the first reconstructions, a homeless of Tunisian origin with mental problems he approached him and struck him several times with a knife, leaving him lifeless on the ground in Piazza San Rocco, not far from the parish. The man, who was assisted by the parish priest and was joined by several expulsion decrees since 2015, then formed an hour later at the carabinieri station who immediately opened a file, coordinated by the prosecutor Massimo Astori.

Upon hearing the news, dozens of members of the foreign community of Como gathered at the scene of the incident with the tears in the eyes. “For me he was like a father – he said Gabriel Nastase, 36 – When I arrived from Romania, alone, without home or work, he was the first to help me. Then I found work but I always kept in touch with him, if I needed medicine, so that they would accompany me on a visit, I would call him. He didn’t deserve to die like that, I hope there is justice. A story similar to that of many others among those who rushed to the crime scene and who in the past were helped by Don Malgesini: “I used to come here every morning to eat something – said a young Ghanaian sitting on the steps of the church – Also this morning I arrived at 7.30 and I saw a body on the ground but they would not let me get close. Only later did I know it was Don Roberto. Today is a very sad day for me, I don’t even feel like eating. “

And it is precisely for doing what he dedicated himself to, helping others, that Don Roberto lost his life. According to the researchers’ reconstruction, the parish priest began his tour of breakfast distribution. The Gray Panda that he used to reach all those in need is still in front of the rectory, laden with food to distribute. The priest, however, found the murderer waiting for him: it was a person known to Don Roberto, a 53-year-old homeless man with several expulsion decrees from 2015 to whom he provided assistance and with whom he also seems to be on good terms. Also for this reason, at the moment, it is difficult to understand what is shot in the head of the alleged murderer, also due to the fact that there are, at the moment, no witnesses to what happened. What is known is that the priest was wounded by several stab wounds, with the neck cut which later proved fatal. After the ambush, the homeless man went to the police station, 400 meters away, where constituted.

At the murder scene the Bishop Oscar Cantoni who blessed the body of Don Roberto before it was taken for the funeral services, while a multitude of faithful, parishioners and immigrants witnessed the blessing through tears. “He took care of the situation of these people – they explain from the Diocese of Como – He was a priest oriented to social volunteering and he did it in the best possible way, it was a piece of bread“Also for his great social commitment, the mayor of Como, Mario landriscina, decided to proclaim the mourning the city.

“A prayer for Don Roberto, murdered this morning in Como by an illegal immigrant. A thought for all respectable Italians and immigrants, who love our country and respect life ”, declared the leader of the League. Matteo salvini, followed by the Governor of Lombardy, Attilio fontana: “I join the Como community that is mourning the death of Don Roberto Malgesini, who was attacked this morning by a homeless man to whom the priest had brought comfort. For years, Don Roberto brought hot meals to the poor of the city at dawn. A life dedicated to the little ones, an example for all ”, he wrote on Facebook.