SW News: A Catholic priest in Italy has forgiven an assailant who slashed him with a knife that required 19 stitches on the face and 12 on the right arm. The incident took place on the night of Wednesday, October 13, in Fidenza in Parma when a homeless man of Milanese origin attacked Don Mario, the parish priest of Santa Maria Annunziata in a fit of drunken rage. He was being sheltered in the rectory by the priest.

Police rushed to the scene and nabbed the culprit after being alerted by the priest who managed to fend off the attacker and hide in the restroom. At around 11 pm, Fr Mario went to the second floor of the building where the 57-year-old Milanese man was being sheltered to tell him to lower the volume of the music he was playing.  Although the priest politely requested the man to lower the volume, he flew into a rage and started to punch him. When he refused to stop, Fr Mario quickly went to his room and locked himself inside. But the attacker gave chase and broke down the door and lunged at the priest with a  knife.

Fr Mario just had enough time to call the police before the assailant slashed him repeatedly leaving deep wounds on the face and right arm. Gathering all his strength he tried to defend himself and ran to the street with the attacker giving pursuit. At that moment the police arrived and immobilized the man before calling for paramedics. Doctors said the blade missed the priest’s eyes by a few centimeters.

The priest later said he has forgiven the man, who has addiction problems. For the past 28 years, the priest has been helping the marginalized. After coming into contact with the Milanese man, the priest tried to help him out of his addiction by offering him a room in the rectory.