Pope saddened by violent death of ambassador to Burundi

Published: 2003-12-30

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Saying he was saddened by the "violent death" of Irish Archbishop Michael A. Courtney, his ambassador to Burundi, Pope John Paul II prayed for him and for a peaceful future for Burundi. The 58-year-old archbishop, whom the Vatican said was about to be named the papal nuncio to Cuba, died Dec. 29 after being struck by numerous bullets shot at the car he was riding in while returning to Bujumbura, Burundi's capital, from a priest's funeral. In a Dec. 30 telegram to Burundi's Catholic bishops, Pope John Paul prayed that God would welcome Archbishop Courtney "into his kingdom of light and peace." The pope wrote, "I ask everyone to commit themselves day after day to following Christ by refusing violence, which is a path without a future, and by building a lasting peace founded on justice, respect for persons and security for all." Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, a Vatican spokesman, said the archbishop's funeral probably would be celebrated Dec. 31 in Bujumbura, then his body would be flown home to Ireland for burial.

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