Rwandan bishop acquitted of genocide dies; approved Kibeho apparitions

March 16, 2012

A Rwandan bishop who was arrested on genocide charges in 1999 and acquitted the following year has died at the age of 69.

During the genocide trial, L’Osservatore Romano defended Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, charging that he was the victim of a “real disinformation campaign” on the part of the government.

Following his acquittal, Bishop Misago declared that “the Virgin Mary appeared at Kibeho on 28 November 1981 and in the months that followed” to three visionaries: Alphonsine Mumureke, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, and Marie Claire Mukangango. In a 1982 apparition, the visionaries saw rivers of blood; a dozen years later, the Rwandan genocide claimed 800,000 victims.

 

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Further information:

• Mgr. Misago has died, Bishop of Gikongoro, accused and acquitted for the genocide in 1994 (Fides)
• Judgement On The Apparitions Of Kibeho (Catholic Culture)
• Decapitating the Church (Catholic World Report, 2000)
• Rwandan bishop cleared of genocide (BBC, 2000)