American Jesuit Fr. Ferdinand Azevedo, S.J. Found Dead Under Suspicious Circumstances In Brazil

An American Jesuit priest teaching at a Catholic university in northeastern Brazil since 1975 has been found dead. Tuesday's statement from the Catholic University of Pernambuco state says that 72-year-old  Fr. Ferdinand Azevedo, S.J. was found dead in his room at a spiritual retreat.

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The American priest, Ferdinand Azevedo, 72, was found dead in the early evening of Monday.

According to unofficial information, the priest was found n@ked and kneeling with his hands tied to his waist.  He was also with a chain used in networks around the neck. 

The body had no signs of injury and was already in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating that death occurred more than two days.
 Link (here) to watch the Brazilian news account at YouTube.

FERDINAND AZEVEDO, S.J., is the provincial superior of the North Brazilian Province of the Society of Jesus. He entered the Jesuits in California, studied Latin American history at The Catholic University of America and served from 1974-95 at the Catholic University of Pernambuco, in Recife, as university librarian, vice president of administration and vice president for student affairs. The interviewer is James S. Torrens, S.J. an associate editor of America.
Read the entire November 28, 1998 America Magazine interview (here)

Dr. Ferdinand Azevedo, SJ - Father Ferdinand entered the Society of Jesus on July 14, 1957 and was ordained priest on June 20, 1970. (here) Doctor of History. The Catholic University Of America (1974) . Graduated in philosophy from Gonzaga University (1963), MA in History from Loyola University of Los Angeles (1968) and Ph.D. in History from The Catholic University of America (1974). He is currently Coordinator and Researcher at the Catholic University of Pernambuco. . He has experience in history, with emphasis on the history of Brazil. Acting on the following topics: Society, the Catholic Church, Politics, Spirituality. tel.: 4338 Research Institute (7 of G4), tel.: 4338
Currículo Lattes >> Lattes>>
E-mail.: fazevedo@unicap.br E-mail.: fazevedo@unicap.br 
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Homicide or Suicide?
 The news of the death of Father Ferdinand surprised everyone Unicap, where he worked and lived since 1975. Very shaken, the dean of Unicap, Father Peter Rubens, knows that police work with the chances of homicide or suicide. 

For him, the colleague's behavior presented no evidence that he could take his own life. "We did not find any trace or sign of depression, sadness, bitterness or anger.  He was an extremely pragmatic. This causes us to this eerie and we feel bound, not only us Jesuits, but all those who knew him, to witness a life that does not match that death, whatever the outcome of the investigation, " said the rector. 

His body was interred in the late afternoon of Tuesday, the cemetery of Santo Amaro.  Rather, friends and colleagues said goodbye to him at a Mass in the chapel of the Catholic University of Pernambuco.  The Mass was celebrated by the archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Dom Fernando Saburido, along with the university president, Father Peter Rubens, and the dean Community, 

Father Miguel Martinez.  "We never saw any trace of sadness, anger ...  He was an extremely pragmatic. A life that does not fit with this death," says Father Peter Rubens. 

After the ceremony, the body was taken to the cemetery of Santo Amaro, where he was buried.  The direction the university is awaiting the outcome of police investigation, to understand whether what happened was murder or suicide.  The Precinct of Janga is responsible for the investigation. The deadline for completion of the inspection report is 10 days.

Link (here) Christ the Redeemer