Three Italian nuns from a missionary convent in Burundi were murdered in two separate attacks at their residence this weekend.
Sister Lucia Pulici, 75, and Sister Olga Raschietti, 83, were found dead on Sunday afternoon at their Xaverian missionary residence in Kamenge, a suburb of the capital, Bujumbura.
Sister Bernardetta Boggian, 79, was later also found dead in the early hours of Monday morning, after the other nuns feared the intruder was still at their home at the St Guido Maria parish.
Reuters reports that Sisters Pulici and Raschietti were found in their dormitory, raped and partially decapitated.
Fr Mario Pulcini, superior of the Xaverian Missionaries in Burundi, told the Missionary International Service News Agency (MISNA), that he went to the residence on September 7 after he had been unable to contact the sisters by telephone.
"I was ready to break the lock of the door, when Sister Bernardetta appeared, in shock. She had entered from a side door and found the bodies of sisters Olga and Lucia," he said.
"Then during the night the sisters phoned me, saying that they feared the attacker was still in the house. When we managed to enter, we also found Sister Bernardetta dead," Fr Pulcini added.
Police said two suspects had been held for questioning. There is no clear motive for the attacks, although a statement from the order said: "the murders appeared to be the tragic outcome of an armed robbery or a vendetta".
The Vatican reported that Pope Francis had "learned with great sadness of the murder" of the three "faithful and devout nuns in these tragic circumstances".
The three nuns had cared for the poor and sick in their community. Sisters Pulici and Boggian had worked in Burundi for the past seven years, having become a missionaries in their 20s.
Sister Pulici worked as a nurse and obstetrician in Brazil for 12 years and in the Democratic Republic of Congo for 25 years, before moving to Burundi.
Sister Raschietti, who also began mission work abroad in her 20s, moved to Burundi in 2010. According to MISNA, she said in July 2013: "On my last visit to Italy, the superiors were uncertain whether to allow me to return to Burundi. One day, during the adoration, I prayed: 'Jesus may your will be done; but you know I want to go back.' I clearly in my head heard these words: 'Olga, do you think you will save Africa? Africa is mine. Despite all, I am however happy you are leaving: go and give your life!' From then, I never had any doubt."
