, to our citizens of Christian belief and the entire Catholic community , '' the ministry said . Church officials expressed `` shock and sorrow '' over the death of Padovese , who was also the president of the Turkey Bishops Conference `` I can only express an immense pain over this violent act that has taken us by surprise , '' Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said . `` The tragedy of this event shows the difficulty that the Christian community endures in the Middle East region . '' Roman Catholics in Turkey `` occasionally have been subjected to violent societal attacks , '' according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom , a U.S. government agency . The group 's latest report cites the February 2006 shooting death of `` an Italian Catholic priest '' in Trabzon by a boy `` angered over the caricatures of the Muslim prophet in Danish newspapers . '' A 16-year-old boy was charged with murder and sentenced to jail in the act , which drew condemnations from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other government officials . In July 2009 , a `` mentally disturbed young man '' killed Gregor Kerkeling
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The driver of a slain Catholic bishop in southern Turkey has been apprehended in the killing , the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Thursday . The victim was identified by the Vatican as Luigi Padovese , the apostolic vicar of Anatolia . He was assaulted Thursday in his house in Iskenderun in Hatay province , the Vatican said . `` We were dismayed to hear that Bishop Prof. Luigi Padovese lost his life as a result of being stabbed by his driver today in Iskenderun , Hatay , '' the ministry said , saying the death is `` a human , religious and academic loss . '' `` This attack on a man of religion , whatever its reason might be , has received significant public condemnation . We have learned that the suspect , who has psychological problems and is currently being treated , was apprehended with the murder weapon . Detailed information will be shared with the public when the ongoing judicial investigation is concluded . `` This murder has led to deep sorrow for everyone . Hoping that the deceased will rest in peace , we extend our most sincere condolences to his family