Three Italian nuns
murdered while working as missionaries in the African nation of
Burundi were raped and one decapitated, according to media
reports on Monday.
Godefroid Bizimana, vice director general of the Burundi
police said that Bernadette Boggian was found to have been
beheaded.
Earlier, the foreign ministry in Rome confirmed that the
three Italians, part of the Xaverian order, were killed at their
convent in the city of Kamenge.
Police were searching for a motive for the killings of
Boggian, 79, Luci Pulici, 75, and Olga Raschietti, 82, with a
botched robbery attempt one early theory.
Two of the three Italian nuns were found with their throats
slit, an anonymous police official was quoted as saying by
media.
Kamenge Mayor Damien Baseka said that two of the nuns had
been killed "savagely".
The bodies of Pulici and Raschietti, were found on Sunday
afternoon, leading to early reports that two nuns had been
killed.
Boggian's body was found later the same day.
Pope Francis sent his condolences to the victims' religious
order.
"Deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of the Xaverian
missionary sisters killed in Burundi, the Holy Father wishes to
assure his heartfelt participation in the profound suffering of
the congregation for the loss of such dedicated sisters and, in
the hope that the blood they have shed may become the seed of
hope to build true fraternity between peoples, he raises fervent
prayers for the eternal repose of their souls and for their
generous witness of the gospel," read the message to the
Xaverian order from the pope.
"To their families, the entire institute and those who
mourn their loss, he imparts the comfort of his apostolic
blessing," said the papal message.
Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini expressed
condolences and said the murders brought "great pain".
"We're once again witness to the sacrifices made by those
who, with complete dedication, spend their entire lives
relieving the overwhelming suffering that still exists in
Africa," Mogherini said.
Vatican Radio said the three nuns had been working among
the sick and poor in Burundi, a small central African state, for
seven years.
Prior to that, they had been missionaries in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Raschietti had spent 50 years in Africa.
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