Sister Maria De Coppi, a Comboni missionary, was killed Tuesday by Islamic terrorists in Mozambique, where she served as a missionary for nearly 60 years.
The attack in which Sister Maria de Coppi, 83, was shot to death was carried out on the night of September 6 in Chipene.
During the five-hour attack on the mission ground, terrorists ransacked and burned the mission's church, school, medical center, residence, library, and vehicles.
“They destroyed everything,” Bishop Alberto Vera of Nacala told Aid to the Church in Need.
“The attackers broke down the door of the tabernacle and vandalized part of the sacristy, looking for anything they could find – possibly money,” he added.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said that "On September 6, as a result of terrorist attacks, six citizens were beheaded, three were kidnapped, six terrorists were arrested and dozens of houses were destroyed. burned in Erati and Memba districts, Nampula province.”
Terrorists are on the run from Mozambican, Rwandan and South African Development Community soldiers.
The Chipene mission area consists of two Italian missionary priests, Father Lorenzo Barro and Father Loris Vignadel, and at least three foreign nuns: two Italians and one Spaniard. All but Sister Maria survived the attack.
According to Aid to the Church in Need, the mission's boarding school had to evacuate all 35 boys and most 45 girls.
The monks took in evacuees fleeing Islamic terrorist groups.
Aid to the Church in Need reports that “According to eyewitness reports… the terrorists came to the nuns' convent and forced them to leave. The other nuns had fled with the sisters, but Sister Maria, who was about to leave the house, suddenly thought of the children who might still be in the house and returned. That's when they took a shot."
According to Corriere del Veneto, Sister Maria left a voicemail for her niece, Gabriella Bottani, shortly before her death.
In the message, the nun explained to her niece that the situation was complicated because "the group they call al-Shabaab, the rebels, is very close."
“On Friday, they attacked a place in our parish and it looks like a group came in yesterday, and they are very close. Looks like they were armed, they kidnapped people, they killed people. Wherever they go, they commit massacres,” Sister Maria explained.
She then said that “all the people here are running away, running away. Today, a Father told me that girls from (boarding school) should return home and the four aspirants of the Comboni Congregation will also return to Nampula because of the danger.”
“The situation is sad, very sad,” continued the missionary. “All those who sleep outdoors in the woods, among the trees; those who can, go to the towns of Alua, Mazua and the centers where they have a little more protection. But many people are still sleeping outside, in the woods. It's sad," she lamented.
Sister Maria repeated several times that it was “a very sad situation” and that “everyone is escaping: nurses, priests, everyone.”
“They are shooting here. We will meet in heaven. They are burning houses. If she no longer hears from me, I will take this opportunity to apologize for my shortcomings and tell her that I love her very much. Remember me in your prayers,” Sister Maria said.
“I have forgiven those who would kill me,” she said. “I do the same. I give him a hug.”
Jos. Tu Lac, Nguyen Minh Son