When, at lunchtime, Bishop Aguirre informed Francis about the murder of three people today, the Pope asked if he could visit the scene of the killing but the Nuncio refused
Three people are said to have been killed as they attempted to exit the parish church of Our Lady of Fatima in Bangui, which is run by the Combonian fathers and situated in the 2Km5” zone of the city, where the Muslim community lives, and where Francis is due to visit a mosque tomorrow. The people in question had apparently been hiding in the parish church in order to escape Seleka militants. The news came out at lunchtime today.
Fr. Giovanni Zaffanelli telephoned Spanish bishop Juan José Aguirre, who is pastor of the Central African diocese of Bangassou. Mgr. Aguirre informed Francis immediately. The Pope, who was lunching in the Apostolic Nunciature at the time, instantly asked the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr. Franco Coppola: “Can I go there?” “No, I’m sorry,” was the response of the Vatican ambassador. The prelate communicated the news to the press in person. He came to the capital of CAR to meet the Pope after a 4-day, 750 kilometre journey in a truck.
The murders apparently took place this morning at around 8 am. According to Bangui radio station Radio Notre Dame, the victims were Christians who had been trying to reach their homes which were set on fire. The area is controlled by Seleka radicals.
The Vatican Gendarmerie initially said two people had died, not three and as confirmed by UN sources, it claimed that these were common crimes: people who wanted to break into houses to steal: “There is no link whatsoever to the papal visit”. In the evening, Combonian sources would not even confirm that the murders had in fact taken place. All a sign of the chaos that reigns supreme in the city and especially in the Muslim area where Fatima parish is located. Until further clarifications are given, all that remains is the story told by the Spanish bishop and the Pope’s immediate impulse to go to the scene of the crime.
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