Three elderly Reverend Sisters brutally raped, beaten, stabbed, beheaded, in Burundi

Three elderly Italian nuns in a convent in Bujumbura, Burundi were yesterday reported to have been killed in what was simply dismissed as a robbery. But new reports have it that the nuns were brutally raped, beaten, stabbed and beheaded. Burundian police have revealed no money was taken at either of the attacks.

Left to right: Ms Pulici, Ms Boggia, Ms Raschietti

Father Mario Pulicini, who is in charge of the parish in Bujumbura, said two of the nuns, Ms Lucia Pulici and Ms Olga Raschietti were found 'partially decapitated' in their dormitory on Sunday. The killer was suspected to have used a knife and a rock to attack the pair.

The third nun, Ms Bernadette Boggia, found the pair and raised the alarm. But early on Monday morning, Ms Boggia was found dead in her room, beheaded.

Police spokesman, Hermenegilde Harimenshi, said evidence showed that the Roman Catholic nuns had been raped before they were killed.

“It is very difficult to know the reason behind the killing, but nothing can justify it,' Father Mario said.

According to the Catholic Herald, Pope Francis, who was deeply saddened by the killings, has led the Catholic Church in mourning for the women, offering prayers for them in a statement: "The Holy Father begs the Lord to welcome into his kingdom of peace and light these three faithful and devout nuns”.

The convent housed only four nuns, three Italians and one Congolese. That the three European nuns were targeted and the other spared over two attacks suggests there may be a racial motive to the killing.

The convent

A number of persons have been arrested in connection with the killing.

Ms Pulici and Ms Raschietti had served in Burundi for seven years, after working several years in the east of another central African state, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ms Bogga had been in Africa since the 1970s.