Pope decries murder of Missionaries of Charity in Yemen
March 07, 2016
Pope Francis lamented the March 4 killing of four Missionaries of Charity and 12 others at a home for the elderly in Aden, Yemen.
Two of the religious sisters were from Rwanda; the others came from India and Kenya.
In a papal telegram of condolence sent on March 5, the Vatican’s Secretary of State said that “His Holiness Pope Francis was shocked and profoundly saddened to learn of the killing of four Missionaries of Charity and twelve others at a home for the elderly in Aden. He sends the assurance of his prayers for the dead and his spiritual closeness to their families and to all affected from this act of senseless and diabolical violence.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin added:
He prays that this pointless slaughter will awaken consciences, lead to a change of heart, and inspire all parties to lay down their arms and take up the path of dialogue. In the name of God, he calls upon all parties in the present conflict to renounce violence, and to renew their commitment to the people of Yemen, particularly those most in need, whom the Sisters and their helpers sought to serve. Upon everyone suffering from this violence, the Holy Father invokes God’s blessing, and in a special ways he extends to the Missionaries of Charity his prayerful sympathy and solidarity.
On March 6, Pope again decried the killings.
“These are the martyrs of today,” he said following his Angelus address. “They give their blood for the Church. These people are victims of the attack of those who have killed them and also of indifference, of this globalization of indifference … May Mother Teresa accompany in paradise these, her martyr daughters of charity, and intercede for peace and sacred respect for human life.”
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Further information:
- Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 06.03.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
- ANGELUS ADDRESS: On Returning With Loving Embrace (Zenit)
- The Pope profoundly saddened by the killing of four missionaries and twelve others in Yemen attack, 05.03.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
- 4 Missionaries of Charity among victims of terrorist attack in Yemen (CWN, 3/4)
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