Papal Nuncio Shot and Killed in Burundi

AP ^

[blackie]

Congratulations on your commitment to your Faith.

[Salvation]

Prayers for this man and his extended family.

[Catholicguy]

Thanks for the kind words.

[ninenot]

One with a Gun is sufficient for most murders.

[Phsstpok]

Red Rabbit is fine as a chapter in Jack Ryan's story, but definitely doesn't stand alone (I read all the stories again in chronological order, not publish date, and it fit fine, but failed by itself). Teeth of the Tiger leaves much to be desired, particularly basic logic and credibility. I think he's trying to write something for Ben Affleck too much and forgot some basic elements of story telling, like willing suspension of disbelief. I do, however, think it might be time to re-read the Jack Ryan saga, at least until the next John Ringo book comes out.

John Ringo's Legacy of the Aldenata series - Any book with the line "that's what you get for letting red-necks play with anti-matter" can't be all bad!

[ninenot]

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe

You post like that on the High Road?

[blackie]

My pleasure.

[Catholicguy]

You lost me with that comment. I don't know understand what you mean.

[ninenot]

"Stay Well...." is the tagline used by someone on The High Road, a firearms discussion board (www.thehighroad.org)

[SauronOfMordor]

Possible Religion of Peace alert:

Burundi's Muslim population has gone from 1% in 1990 to 10% now. 75% of Burundi is Catholic. It is not to the Muslims' advantage to have a strong presence by the Catholic hierarchy

[windchime]

Bump!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Maybe some local al Qaeda nuts decided to do this after the plot to kill the Pope and blow up the Vatican was thwarted. I wouldn't put this act past those bunch of dogs.

[Trytophan Man]

30-December-2003 -- Vatican Information Service

TELEGRAM FOR ASSASSINATION OF ARCHBISHOP COURTNEY VATICAN CITY, DEC 30, 2003 (VIS)

- Following is the Holy Father's telegram sent to Archbishop Simon Ntamwana of Gitega, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Burundi, upon the assassination of Archbishop Michael A. Courtney, apostolic nuncio in the same country, yesterday afternoon:

"Deeply saddened by the tragic news of the violent death of Archbishop Michael A. Courtney, apostolic nuncio in Burundi, I would like to express my spiritual closeness and my compassion to the Episcopal Conference and the Catholic Church in Burundi. I ask the Lord of life to accept him into His kingdom of light and peace, he who manifested the daily concern of the Successor of Peter for more than three years to all the citizens of Burundi and I invite everyone to commit themselves to follow Christ, rejecting violence, which is a path without a future, and to build up lasting peace, based on justice, respect for others and security for all. As a sign of comfort, I impart the apostolic blessing on you and all the people affected by this drama so that God may watch over you in peace and hope."

[Trytophan Man]

VATICAN MOURNS MURDERED NUNCIO IN BURUNDI

Bujumbura, Dec. 30 (CWNews.com) - Reacting to the assassination of the apostolic nuncio in Burundi on December 29, Pope John Paul II pleaded with the people of that African country to reject violence and "build a lasting peace."

News of the slaying of Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney, a veteran of the Vatican diplomatic corps, was confirmed in the evening in Rome, with an official statement issued by the Secretariat of State.

The archbishop was killed in Minago, a town south of the capital city of Bujumbura, when the car in which he was traveling was hit with a volley of gunfire from a nearby hill. Severely wounded, Archbishop Courtney was taken to a hospital in Bujumbura, where he died without regaining consciousness.

The archbishop suffered three separate gunshot wounds, including one to the head, the Vatican revealed. He died of "an uncontrollable hemorrhage," after the drive to the hospital was lengthened by the fact that the car's tires had been flattened by the gunfire.

In a telegram addressed to Archbishop Simon Ntamwana of Gitenga, the president of the bishops' conference of Burundi, Pope John Paul said that he was "deeply saddened" to learn of the nuncio's death. He urged "everyone to commit themselves to follow Christ, rejecting violence, which is a path without a future."

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization, also sent a message to the Catholics of Burundi, expressing their prayer that the death of Archbishop Courtney "May contribute toward the long-desired authentic peace." The Congregation noted that the archbishop's "life witness is added to that of the countless missionaries who gave their lives to proclaim the Gospel."

Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and a personal friend of the deceased prelate, described Archbishop Courtney as "a man with a gentle character," and said that he had he had "carried out his mission as an apostolic nuncio in a difficult situation, but with a real missionary spirit."

Cardinal Ersilio Tonnini, interviewed by the Italian daily Avvenire, confirmed that the mission of a papal nuncio Burundi is both difficult and dangerous. He pointed out that the previous nuncio, the Swiss-born Archbishop Emile Tscherrig, twice escaped assassination attempts. Archbishop Courtney, a native of Ireland, had been serving as nuncio in Burundi since August 2000. He had previous held diplomatic posts in South Africa, Senegal, India, Yugoslavia, and Egypt, and served for almost five years on the Vatican delegation to the Council of Europe. He was reportedly expecting a transfer to a new assignment as apostolic nuncio in Cuba, at the time of his death.

The funeral for Archbishop Courtney will be held on December 31 in Bujumbura. Archbishop Pierre Christophe, the apostolic nuncio in Uganda, will preside, as a special envoy for the Pope. The remains of the slain archbishop will then be brought home to Ireland for burial.

[TexKat]

Thanks for the update Trytophan Man.

[Trytophan Man]

Thanks for the update Trytophan Man.

You are welcome. Happy New Year!