A 71-year-old Italian missionary was on his way to a mission when he was hit by a landmine in the Central African Republic.
Newsroom (14/02/2022 08:00, Gaudium Press) The Italian priest, Norberto Pozzi, 71 years old, was the victim of a serious accident in the Central African Republic.
Last Friday, February 10, the religious was driving a car along with a Carmelite brother, a catechist and some masons, when an anti-personnel mine exploded in the vehicle’s path.
They were to make a four-day visit to a village to evangelize and repair the local church. The other crew members of the car suffered only minor injuries.
The accident happened 400 kilometers from the capital Bangui. The priest was taken by helicopter by UN soldiers to the capital where he underwent a delicate operation in an attempt to save his leg.
Father Norberto was at serious risk of dying, but a confrere said his health was improving. In the coming days, the Carmelite will be transported to a UN hospital in Entebbe, Uganda.
Missionary since 1980
The Discalced Carmelite arrived in the country as a missionary in 1980. At the time, Father Norberto was a layman and worked as a mason for 8 years in the Carmelite missions in the Central African Republic. He later returned to Italy where he was ordained a priest and returned to Bangui in 1995.
The country of the Central African Republic suffers from the presence of different armed groups. The country has known several coups d’état since its independence in 1960, which gave rise to several rebel groups.
The current president, Faustin-Archange Touadera who was protected for years by Wagner’s Russian mercenaries, is in his second term since taking office in 2016.
Compiled by Raunaq Luis Fernandes
Related Images:
