Faustino Rayo
Encyclopedia
Faustino Rayo was the assassin
of President of Ecuador Gabriel Garcia Moreno
, who was killed by the machete blows of Rayo and the revolver shots of his three conspirators on August 6, 1875, in Quito, Ecuador. Garcia Moreno twice served as President of his country (1859–1865 and 1869–1875) and was assassinated just prior to beginning his third term. The president was noted for his conservatism
, Roman Catholic religious perspective and commitment to promoting the fields of science and higher education within Latin America.
Many Liberals in Ecuador and throughout Latin America hated García Moreno; when he was elected a third time in 1875, it was considered to be his death warrant. Prior to their successful attempt, Rayo and his comrades had attempted multiple times to kill García Moreno. After election to a third term García Moreno wrote immediately to Pope Pius IX
asking for his blessing before inauguration day on August 30:
García Moreno's prediction was correct; he was assassinated exiting the Cathedral in Quito
, struck down with knives and revolvers, his last words being: "¡Dios no muere!" ("God does not die!"). Faustino Rayo, leader of the assassins, had assaulted him with six or seven blows of a machete, while his three conspirators fired their revolvers. .
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of President of Ecuador Gabriel Garcia Moreno
Gabriel García Moreno
Gabriel Gregorio Fernando José María García y Moreno y Morán de Buitrón was an Ecuadorian statesman who twice served as President of Ecuador and was assassinated during his second term, after being elected to a third term...
, who was killed by the machete blows of Rayo and the revolver shots of his three conspirators on August 6, 1875, in Quito, Ecuador. Garcia Moreno twice served as President of his country (1859–1865 and 1869–1875) and was assassinated just prior to beginning his third term. The president was noted for his conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, Roman Catholic religious perspective and commitment to promoting the fields of science and higher education within Latin America.
Many Liberals in Ecuador and throughout Latin America hated García Moreno; when he was elected a third time in 1875, it was considered to be his death warrant. Prior to their successful attempt, Rayo and his comrades had attempted multiple times to kill García Moreno. After election to a third term García Moreno wrote immediately to Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
asking for his blessing before inauguration day on August 30:
I wish to obtain your blessing before that day, so that I may have the strength and light which I need so much in order to be unto the end a faithful son of our Redeemer, and a loyal and obedient servant of His Infallible Vicar. Now that the Masonic LodgeAnticlericalism and FreemasonryThe question of whether Freemasonry is Anticlerical is the subject of debate. The Catholic Church has long been an outspoken critic of Freemasonry, and Catholic scholars have often accused the fraternity of anticlericalism. The Catholic Church forbids its members to join any masonic society under...
s of the neighboring countries, instigated by GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, are vomiting against me all sorts of atrocious insults and horrible calumnies, now that the Lodges are secretly arranging for my assassination, I have more need than ever of the divine protection so that I may live and die in defense of our holy religion and the beloved republic which I am called once more to rule.
García Moreno's prediction was correct; he was assassinated exiting the Cathedral in Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, struck down with knives and revolvers, his last words being: "¡Dios no muere!" ("God does not die!"). Faustino Rayo, leader of the assassins, had assaulted him with six or seven blows of a machete, while his three conspirators fired their revolvers. .