Pope condemns beheadings of Christian girls in Indonesia

Published: 2005-10-31

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI condemned the "barbaric" beheadings of three Christian girls in Indonesia and prayed for the end of civil strife in the area. Masked men armed with machetes attacked the girls as they walked to school in the town of Poso Oct. 29. Their heads were taken by the killers and were found later in the day, one near a Catholic church and two near a police station. The girls were dressed in the brown uniforms of their Catholic school on the island of Sulawesi, which has a history of violence between local Christians and Muslims. A fourth girl suffered facial injuries but survived the attack. The Vatican said that as soon as the pope was given the "painful news of the barbaric killings of three Christian girls in Indonesia" he sent his condolences to the families of the victims. He also asked the local bishop, Bishop Joseph Suwatan of Manado, to convey his sympathy to the local Catholic community.

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