2 min read
Key points:
- Islamist militants killed 15 and injured two during Sunday Mass in Burkina Faso.
- Twelve victims died on the spot; three later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
- The Dori Diocese reported the attack, shocking the community and nation.
Sunday prayers became a horror scene in Burkina Faso as militants’ bullets claimed 15 lives during Mass in a brutal “terrorist” attack. Fifteen worshippers were killed, and two injured when Islamist militants opened fire inside a Catholic church, shocking a community and a nation.
The attack was swift and merciless. Twelve were killed on the spot, their prayers cut short by bullets. Three more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. This heart-wrenching news was shared with the world through a statement from the Dori Diocese to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
In the wake of this violence, Father Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, the vicar general of Dori Diocese, has emerged as a voice of resilience. He calls on people everywhere to pray—not just for the souls of those lost and for the healing of the injured, but also for the comfort of the grieving families. His message is one of faith in the face of despair: “At this painful time, we invite you to pray for those who have died in the Faith, that they may rest in the Lord.”
Father Sawadogo’s appeal extends beyond seeking peace for the departed and solace for the survivors. He urges prayers for the transformation of the hearts of those who perpetrate such violence, hoping for a future where peace prevails over terror.