Tulio Maruzzo, martyr (1929–1981)

Biography

Franciscan priest and missionary in Guatemala, Tulio Maruzzo evangelized rural communities and peacefully defended exploited peasants. He arrived in the country in 1960 and visited villages, trained catechists, promoted literacy and helped the population know their rights. His serene preaching and his closeness to the poor provoked threats from those who benefited from injustice. On July 1, 1981, he was murdered along with the layman Luis Obdulio Arroyo Navarro after carrying out a pastoral service.