Catholic priest wounded in stabbing preaches forgiveness

Roman Catholic priest Adrian Mantykiewicz on Saturday said he and other victims forgave a man who wounded them and stabbed a fellow priest to death. The attack occurred Thursday at a Benedictine monastery in southeastern Poland, according to Vatican news outlet Agenzia Fides. The assailant entered the building and attacked several people with a kitchen knife, wounding Mantykiewicz and two others and killing Stanisław Zbojnowicz.

Mantykiewicz’s remarks came during a service in mourning for the murdered priest. He also asked those hearing his message to pray for the assailant’s salvation, according to a translated video of his homily. In the video, Mantykiewicz appeared with his head and hand bandaged and his face visibly bruised. The two additional wounded victims suffered more serious injuries and remained hospitalized as of Monday, according to Agenzia Fides.

A 31-year-old Ukrainian refugee is suspected of carrying out the attack, the outlet said. Psychiatric evaluations showed the assailant possibly had a psychotic disorder, according to the report. One of the victims who remained hospitalized was heavily involved in assisting Ukrainian refugees, according to Agenzia Fides.