Salvatore Colombo

Pietro Salvatore Colombo, OFM (28 October 1922 – 9 July 1989) was an Italian Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Mogadiscio from 1976 until his assassination in 1989. He was a member of the Order of Friars Minor.

Biography Colombo was born in Carate Brianza, near Milan. He served the people of Somalia from 1946, after he had been ordained a priest in Milan, Italy. He was appointed as the first Bishop of Mogadishu in 1975, and consecrated on 16 March 1976.

Colombo was well regarded by non-Catholics, whether Muslim or secular. Colombo was known for his pragmatic oversight of aid projects, making sure that aid projects could operate after the foreign aid workers went home. The government of President Siad Barre did not tolerate proselytizing, but was comfortable with the humanitarian aid dispensed by the Church.

Colombo was killed in the Mogadishu Cathedral by an unknown assassin. Barre blamed radical Islamists and offered a bounty for their capture. But many people believed that Barre had ordered the assassination, perhaps because Colombo had been critical of the Barre regime or perhaps because Barre wanted a scapegoat which would increase military and other aid from Western governments, or perhaps because Colombo had helped a clan which was out of favor with Barre purchase some land. To this day, the controversy of who killed Colombo persists although his murder is seen as a turning point for Islamic/secular relations because of the severe crackdown by Barre in response to the murder.

Legacy Four days after Colombo's death, several Somali sheikhs and other men were arrested on suspicion of having a connection to the assassination. The next day, on 14 July 1989, government forces massacred those leaving the Sheik Ali Suufi Mosque after the imam gave sermon denouncing the government. News of this resulted in civilian riots against government forces.

No bishop has been appointed for Mogadishu since Colombo's death. Currently, the welfare of Catholics in Somalia is overseen by the Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu, Jamal Khader Daibes, the Bishop of Djibouti.