Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) – Three Italian Xaverian sisters have been killed in Burundi, at the mission of Kamenge. The news was confirmed to Fides by Sister Giordana, Directress General of the Xaverian missionary sisters in the Italian city of Parma. “Last night a third nun was killed, she was Sister Bernardetta Bogian. The other two Sr Lucia Pulici and Sr Olga Raschietti , were killed yesterday afternoon: they were the only Sisters in the house at the time. When the others returned they found the two sisters lying dead on the floor ” the Sister general said.
Sr Giordana explained what happened: “Last night 4 Sisters slept at the convent. Perhaps the room belonging to Sr Bernardetta was the only one which the murderer or murderers found unlocked. The sisters felt relatively safe knowing that policemen were stationed outside the house. At a certain point during the night the sisters heard a cry. They used mobile telephones to communicate with one another and to inform the Xaverian fathers in nearby mission. When the fathers arrived they and the sisters realised that the only sister missing was Sr Bernardetta. They went to her room and found her dead. This second murder was distinct from the first in the afternoon but the method was the same. We think the crimes were committee by the same person. We think this was done by some psychopath”.
The sister remarked “we are deeply shocked and astonished. The local people are as shocked as we are and the mission is full of people anxious to express sympathy with the sisters”.
Sr Giordana said this about the three dead sisters: “all three were elderly and had just returned to Burundi to be with their people”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/9/2014)
