Dutch priest Frans van der Lugt, who gained notoriety for his refusal to abandon his congregation in the ravaged Syrian city of Homs, was assassinated in his monastery on Monday by masked gunmen.
His death was first reported by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian news agency SANA. The priest’s death was confirmed by the Dutch Jesuit Order.
“I can confirm that he’s been killed,” Jan Stuyt, secretary of the Dutch Jesuit Order, told AFP.
According to Stuyt, “A man came into his house, took him outside and shot him twice in the head. In the street in front of his house.”
Rev. Ziad Hillal, another Jesuit priest who lived in the same monastery as Van der Lugt, told Vatican Radio, “Father Frans was killed in the garden of our monastery. They shot him in the head. It was a premeditated act.”
Conflicting reports out of Syria regarding who is responsible for the murder of Van der Lugt are emerging. Syrian rebel forces and those loyal to the Assad regime are blaming one another.
Stuyt confirmed that Van der Lugt would be buried in Syria “according to his wishes.”
The Vatican praised Van der Lugt, calling him a “man of peace.”
“This is the death of a man of peace, who showed great courage in remaining loyal to the Syrian people despite an extremely risky and difficult situation,” Vatican spokesman Fedrico Lombardi said.
“In this moment of great pain, we also express our great pride and gratitude at having had a brother who was so close to the suffering.”
Van der Lugt, 75, resided in the Old City of Homs for the last five decades and was respected for his continued solidarity with residents living under Syrian rebel command. He repeatedly refused to leave Homs despite ongoing violence and terror.
With rapidly dwindling supplies, Van der Lugt said that Syria was his home and he would not abandon his people during their time in need.
In February, Van der Lugt told AFP, “The Syrian people have given me so much, so much kindness, inspiration and everything they have. If the Syrian people are suffering now, I want to share their pain and their difficulties.”
The priest described the dire circumstances the residents of Homs faced. “The faces of people you see in the street are weak and yellow. Their bodies are weakened and have lost their strength,” he told AFP. “What should we do, die of hunger?”
According to the Dutch priest, the former vibrant community of the Old City of Homs, with tens of thousands of people, withered away to a mere 66.
Van der Lugt arrived in Syria in 1966 after spending two years in Lebanon studying Arabic. He lived in a Jesuit monastery where he helped Muslim and Christian families of in the neighborhood.
“I don’t see people as Muslims or Christians, I see a human being first and foremost,” he told AFP.
