Martyr in Brazil

Chapter 7. The fatal accident

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After the funeral, Fr. Salvatore's mother said: "I do not understand why this happened; but may the Lord be praised!"

On that fateful October 16, 1987, a group of peasants had mounted a protest in front of a government building in Brasil Novo, 28 miles from Altamira, along the Transamazzonica road.  The bishop of the Xingu, Erwin Krautler, who had been threatened because of his steadfast support for the poor, decided to go and celebrate Mass with the protesters. He was accompanied by Salvatore, Father Matteo and Sonia, a lay animator.

At that time of year, the weather is dry and a thin layer of dust covers the Transamazzonica road and, when cars pass by, a thick cloud is thrown up that drastically reduces the visibility. The four of them set off with the bishop at the wheel of the car. The journey went smoothly until kilometer 23 (16 mile), which was an uphill stretch of the road. The car collided head-on with a truck that was passing a vehicle on the other side of the road. Some people ran to the rescue of the occupants of the car, dragging them to safety.

Salvatore’s head was lying against the dashboard as if he were asleep. The bishop called his name, but received no response: Salvatore had died instantly on impact. His death caused much sadness and consternation and everyone asked why such a thing had happened. Was it just an accident or a botched attempt on the bishop’s life?

The bishop himself later spoke of a “premeditated accident”, but no inquest was ever held. The missionary adventure of Salvatore Deiana came to an abrupt end exactly four years after it had begun, on October 16, 1987. On the day he died, his mother at home was telling her husband that their son was soon due home for vacations.

A few hours after his death, the body of Salvatore, clad in his priestly vestments, was taken to the cathedral of Altamira. The people filed past the coffin during the entire night. The young people prayed, sang, cried and remembered their friend. The following morning, Salvatore was taken back to his beloved Vila Brasilia; on route his seminarians had the coffin taken to the seminary chapel where they paid him their last respects.

The funeral Mass was celebrated in the new church that was still under construction. His funeral was the inauguration of his unfulfilled dream to see the church finished: there, on that sad day, he celebrated his first, and last, Mass.

Endless lines of mourning people paid their last respects to the young missionary from Sardinia; they came to express their gratitude for all he had done for them, to express their sorrow at his untimely death and, above all, wonder why it had to end like this. 

The Journey Home

The Xaverians brought Salvatore’s body to their own house for a community funeral Mass. After the Gospel, they shared their memories. Father Francesco Villa summed up what everyone was feeling: “The Xaverians now have another martyr in their ranks: Salvatore gave his life for Christ and the Gospel: he died in the exercise of his pastoral ministry, while he was on his way to celebrate Mass with the poor peasants. He died like Christ because of his love for humanity”.

He never stood still. Perhaps he had some foreboding that his time would be short. It only took him a short time to conquer the love of the young people to whom he dedicated the best of his energies and affection; he listened to them, spoke with them, gave them advice, sang and celebrated with them.
Bishop Erwin Krautler on
Fr. Salvatore Deiana

On October 20, Salvatore’s body was flown to Italy, back to his beloved Sardinia. It finally arrived home on October 23, where many people were waiting; his face was visible through a small glass partition on the coffin lid. His mother asked that there be no more crying and, speaking to her son, she said: “Pray for Africa, Japan, Brazil, and Altamira. Ask the Lord to send many more vocations to the Xaverians to take your place in Altamira”.

She led everyone present in the recitation of the rosary, the Miserere, and then she pronounced the extraordinary words: “I do not understand why this happened, but may the Lord be blessed”.

The funeral was attended by an enormous crowd of people and the coffin was carried by the companions who had done their military service with Salvatore. The bishop of Oristano, Pier Giuliano Tiddia, was present, together with many Sardinian priests and many Xaverians. Despite the loss of their son, the parents asked about the health of the others who had been injured in the same accident and gave an offering for the church in Altamira.

His father explained the gesture: “This is a sign that nothing has changed between us and the church of the Xingu. We want it to be known that we will continue to love and support that place as if our son were still there”. 

Cross placed at the Transamazonic Road km 23 (mile 16) remembering the fatal accident

Bishop Erwin’s Tribute

On November 27, 1988, bishop Erwin Krautler arrived in Ardauli to pray at the tomb of Father Salvatore, visit his family and celebrate Mass in the parish church. He told people how he had been impressed by what Salvatore’s mother had said: “I do not understand why this happened, but may the Lord be blessed”.

He spoke of his memories of Salvatore: “He never stood still. Perhaps he had some foreboding that his time would be short. It only took him a short time to conquer the love of the young people to whom he dedicated the best of his energies and affection; he listened to them, spoke with them, gave them advice, sang and celebrated with them. Some of the songs he wrote for them are still sung by the communities today. No one will ever forget the joy and encouragement he spread among people”.

The bishop also told those present about that last fateful journey which ended in the tragic death of Salvatore. He then referred to the unanswered question as to why it had happened: “The circumstances of the accident have never been clarified. Those who caused such great pain and suffering have escaped and nothing more has been heard of them. Neither the witnesses nor myself were ever questioned. To add insult to injury, some false explanations were invented, a false report was given to the press. The request for an inquest was ignored. Only God knows what happened and He will surely judge those responsible”.

In a report to the Episcopal Conference, the bishop later categorically excluded that it had been a mere accident, maintaining that it had been a deliberate attempt on his life and, therefore, Father Salvatore had been murdered. Perhaps their attackers had not expected the bishop to be at the wheel of the car.

In Ardauli, bishop Erwin concluded: “I do not understand why this happened, but may the Lord be blessed! We will never understand the Lord’s designs, we do not, we cannot, understand the cross. We can only contemplate and accept it. The cross is always the fruit of grace and points the way to the resurrection. We do not understand why Salvatore was taken from us so soon, but may the Lord the blessed!”

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