Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio che il Santo Padre Giovanni Paolo II ha inviato, tramite il Cardinale Angelo Sodano, Segretario di Stato, a S.E. Mons. Denis Kiwanuka Lote, Vescovo di Kotido (Uganda), per l’assassinio di due missionari Comboniani, Padre Mario Mantovani e Fratel Godfrey Kiryowa, avvenuto in Uganda il 14 agosto 2003:

TO THE MOST REVEREND DENIS KIWANUKA LOTE

BISHOP OF KOTIDO

DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE NEWS OF THE TRAGIC ASSASSINATION OF TWO MISSIONARIES, FATHER MARIO MANTOVANI AND BROTHER GODFREY KIRYOWA, THE HOLY FATHER OFFERS FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE REPOSE OF THEIR SOULS AND SENDS HIS SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, TO THE FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE OF KOTIDO AND ESPECIALLY TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS.

ENTRUSTING YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR PEOPLE TO THE PROTECTION OF MARY ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN, HIS HOLINESS PRAYS THAT YOU WILL BE CONSOLED IN YOUR GRIEF AND THAT ALL THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WILL BE CONFIRMED IN THEIR FAITHFUL WITNESS TO LOVE AND RECONCILIATION OVER THE FORCES OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE. AS A PLEDGE OF RENEWED STRENGHT AND PEACE, THE HOLY FATHER IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO

SECRETARY OF STATE

[01285-02.01] [Original text: English]