Fr. Kevin O’Neill SAC described Fr. Alfredo in the following terms: “We can summarize his qualities in a single word – amiable. In the true sense of the word it means more than being worthy of love, it also means that he was easy to love, to wish well, he was a man of peace who possessed a great interior peace which was transmitted in his actions. His manner was gentle and he was sensitive to others and because of this suffered. He was also very sensible and had great courage when situations required it. His human and priestly qualities brought those of the late Fr Thomas O’Grady who left an indelible impression in our Argentine mission, to mind. The tragic and premature death of Fr. Alfredo Leaden left a vacuum in our ranks which will not be filled for a long time”.

Fr. Rodolfo Capalozza SAC, a student of Fr. Alfredo and later Regional Rector in Argentina, wrote of Fr. Alfredo “Alfredo seemed to have supernatural peace, an uncommon peace. He transmitted the peace of God. To go into his room was like the psychological experience of entering a sanctuary, it was orderly, and he radiated amiability and innocence. Going to confession with him was to experience tenderness, affability, his gestures and his actions spoke directly of the presence of God (…). He was a man who respected new experiences, one who did not want to ignore the voice of the Spirit.”

Fr. Alfredo was eliminated, probably for his abundant courage in forthrightly proclaiming the Gospel. His manner of living his priestly service touched at some deep level the hearts of the enemies of the truth and justice, persons who had no other manner of responding except that of crude and gratuitous violence.

As Christians we can and must pray the Lord that light be thrown on Fr. Alfredo’s death and his holiness.