Martyr in Brazil

Chapter 6. A triumphant funeral in Moreira Salles

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September 12, 1976: Funeral of Fr. Albert Pierobon

The Regional Superior, Father Carlo Coruzzi, thus described the funeral: “At 7 pm on September 11, we arrived in the vicinity of Moreira Salles. An enormous procession of cars and lorries had been waiting for us for almost four hours. Darkness had fallen, and it had started raining, but the people had not let this affect them. The entire population was out in the streets, everyone insisting that they wanted to see the body or, at least, take it around the streets of the town on a farewell journey.

We were moved by the faith and the kindness of the people. We arrived in Moreira Salles at about 8 pm. The church square was packed with all kinds of people who had come from all around to see their priest for the last time. Heavy rain began to fall just as we were arriving, but no one was put off by this. The people wanted us to open the coffin so that they could see Father Albert for one last time. We told them that the police had ordered to coffin to be sealed for the journey, but still they insisted. The people here are used to seeing and touching their dead.

The following day, September 12, 1976, the Vicar General of Campo Mourão presided the funeral Mass, in representation of the bishop who was absent form the diocese. About twenty priests concelebrated. The church was packed with people and many followed the ceremony outside over the loudspeakers. At about 10:30 am, the cortège made its way towards the cemetery. People were choked by emotion. When we reached the cemetery, the body was blessed for the last time and the people asked to be allowed to file past the coffin to pay their last respects.

It was a very moving scene: the children, young people, adults and the elderly all agreed that there would never be another priest like their Father Albert. He had been so good to everyone and had been the main reason of the unity among them. They had become a family thanks to his untiring efforts. In my own opinion, these words of the sobbing mourners contain a lot of truth. Perhaps his mission had been accomplished, and the Lord sealed his life with the gift of martyrdom so that no one would ever doubt the authenticity of his zeal”.

Louis, Sandra, and Albert

At the time of his death, Father Albert Pierobon was 48 years old, fifteen of which he had dedicated to the poor in Brazil.  Back in Cittadella, Padua, Father Albert’s elderly mother mourned her three dead children, accompanied by their surviving brothers and sisters. They would never have the chance to kneel and pray at the graves of Sandra and Albert who had both been buried in Brazil. They are still alive among us today: martyrs never die. There is always someone who takes flowers to their graves; some pray for them and to them, still others follow their example and take up from where they left off.

The police investigation

On September 27, 1976, Father Coruzzi sent an official report of the events to bishop Giovanni Gazza, the Superior General: “At long last, I can send you some more precise information on the tragic death of our unforgettable brother, Father Albert Pierobon. I have waited until now in the hope of adding the police report to the newspaper articles but, so far, I have been unable to obtain anything from them. I am told that it will be ready by the end of the month. Nevertheless, from what I have seen of it myself, I can tell you that all the evidence, including the photographs taken at the scene, points to a cold-blooded crime.

He died as Christ died, the disciple who wished to follow the example of his Master. He died because of his faith, his love for justice, to defend his people from false prophets. We are certain of this. They killed him, but he lives on: his example, his kindness, his exhortations are engraved in the hearts and minds of his people. We are witnesses to this.
Fr. Coruzzi on Fr. Albert Pierobon

No one yet knows the reason or the cause of this death. The “gypsy theory” gains more consistency as the investigation proceeds: it is thought that they killed him, or had him killed upon commission. In fact, a group of gypsies had been working for a month in the parish of Moreira Salles. Further support for the theory comes from a letter the police found in Father Albert’s wallet: the letter, dated June 23,  1976, mentions the gypsy problem and bears the signature of a person from Cascavel, a town 80 miles from Moreira Salles.

This person insists that Father Albert intervene stop the gypsies who were, in his opinion, causing too much trouble to the parish and its families; they played on people’s good faith and stole money, sometimes even cars. The author of the letter had already fallen foul of the gypsies but the authorities did not give the matter any importance. Father Albert was asked to take a direct and personal interest because no-one else was prepared to intervene; there was even proof that the local police official was a beneficiary of the gypsies’ criminal activity.

Various accusations contained in the letter were backed up by our own enquiries. It was also widely known that Father Albert would have taken the matter directly to Curitiba if the local police did not take adequate action, and this would have had repercussion on the position of the previously mentioned official. It is not known how the official reacted to this news, but the gypsies disappeared from the parish one or two days before the fathers left Moreira Salles for Curitiba.

A few weeks later, during the period of Father Albert’s disappearance, the police official was transferred. Was this just a coincidence? It is difficult to say, especially because many people are afraid of reprisals if they testify to what they know. What we are certain of is this: Father Albert was killed by a gang of ruthless murderers”.

The voice of the people

The local people mention the possibility of a human sacrifice carried out by a sect that practices magic because the area where the body was found is notorious for this kind of activity. Though it is a plausible theory, there is nothing to back it up. Everyone is trying to explain and understand this cruel death, but it seems a hopeless endeavor. Father Albert had no enemies among his people. We saw with our own eyes how everyone mourned his tragic death as if he were a member of their family. The many people we spoke with during the funeral all confirmed their opinion that a saint had lived among them. Father Albert was rather persistent, but the people understood him; they accepted him as he was and loved him dearly.

He was well known for his love for the little ones, the weak, the elderly and the sick; his solid faith was visible in his behavior, his unending zeal for the Kingdom of God and the good of souls; he stirred up people’s generosity and support, he worked hard for the seminaries, and earned everyone’s love. He died as Christ died, the disciple who wished to follow the example of his Master. He died because of his faith, his love for justice, to defend his people from false prophets.

We are certain of this. They killed him, but he lives on: his example, his kindness, his exhortations are engraved  in the hearts and minds of his people. We are witnesses to this. The people wanted him to rest in the land to which he had dedicated his life; it was a gesture of gratitude and we decided to grant them this wish. Whether we did the right thing or not, I cannot say.

I am certain, however, that Father Albert deeply loved that community and held it in the same esteem as he did his own family and congregation; he knew that his people understood him and supported him in difficult times. May the Lord grant him the peace of the just and the crown of the martyrs. Many here believe that his sacrificed has earned him this much. Father General, our Xaverian family can count another martyr among its ranks”.

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