Bishop Enrique Ángel Angelelli (1923-1976)

Today marks the death of Argentinian Bishop Enrique Ángel Angelelli, and the following is adapted from Wikipedia:

The son of Italian immigrants, Enrique Ángel Angelelli was born in Córdoba and began studies for the priesthood at age fifteen. He studied in Rome and was ordained in 1949. After his ordination, he returned to Córdoba, where he worked in a parish. He was particularly concerned with the plight of the poor in the slums. In 1960, at age 37, he was named an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Córdoba. In 1968, he was named bishop of the Diocese of La Rioja, in northwestern Argentina. There he encouraged the formation of unions and cooperatives. In 1976, Argentine was under a dictatorship, and he was assassinated by members of the military for his stand on social justice. At the time, it was declared to be an automobile accident, but in August 2006, the thirtieth anniversary of the bishop’s death, Argentine President Néstor Kirchner signed a decree declaring August 4th a national day of mourning, and gave a speech in the Casa Rosada “commemorating the religious workers [who were] victims of state terrorism” In a homily at the Cathedral of La Rioja, it was said that Angelelli “got stones thrown at him because he preached the Gospel, and shed his blood for it.” This was the first official homage of the Church to Angelelli, and the first time that the word martyr was used with reference to his murder.