Three Italian Xaverian missionary nuns have been killed since Sunday in Burundia, in the northern sector of the capital Bujumbura.
Two of the nuns, Sister Olga Raschietti and Sister Lucia Pulici, were found dead yesterday afternoon. The third, Sister Bernardetta Boggian, was found last night. “It was an entirely unexpected and filled us with grief,” said Father Mario Pulcini, superior of the Xaverian missionaries in Burundi.
Investigations are underway into the “tragic result of a robbery by a mentally unstable person,” said the Italian Diocese of Parma in a statement, announcing the news of the death of Sisters Olga and Lucia.
The Vatican Secretary of State. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of Pope Francis to Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bujumbura.
“His Holiness Pope Francis has learned with great sadness of the murder of three nuns, Sister Bernadetta Bogiann, Sister Lucia Pulici and Sister Olga Raschietti, who were in the pastoral service of the parish of Saint Guido Maria Conforti in Bujumbura," the letter said. "The Holy Father begs the Lord to welcome into his kingdom of peace and light these three faithful and devout nuns. In these tragic circumstances, he expresses his closeness to their religious community, to the families of the victims, and the entire diocesan community. He imparts the comfort of a heartfelt and affectionate apostolic blessing to all those affected by their sudden loss. I join the Holy Father in offering my condolences and wish to assure those close to the departed Sisters of my fervent prayers.”
The Secretary of State also sent another telegram to Sister Ines Frizza, superior general of the Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, in which he expresses his sadness for the tragic death of the missionaries and “assures his heartfelt participation in the profound suffering of the Congregation for the loss of such dedicated sisters”. The Holy Father, “in the hope that the blood they have shed may become the seed of hope to build true fraternity between peoples, raises fervent prayers for the eternal repose of their souls and for their generous witness of the Gospel. To their families, the entire Institute and those who mourn their loss, he imparts the comfort of his apostolic blessing”, the cardinal concludes.
Reprinted courtesy of MISNA.
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