During an armed attack in the Haitian capital, an Italian nun was seriously wounded and died from her injuries.
Newsroom (26/06/2022 8:40 PM Gaudium Press) The Italian nun, Sister Luisa Dell’Orto, a member of the Little Sisters of the Gospel of Charles de Foucauld, was killed last Saturday, June 25, in Haiti. The nun was on the streets of the city when there was an armed attack, in which she was seriously wounded.
Sister Luisa Dell’Orto was taken to the Bernard Mevs hospital but died shortly afterwards of her injuries. Following Monday, Sister Luisa would have been 65 years old.
The nun was the main caretaker of “Casa de Carlo”, also known as Kay Chal. The Kay Chal centre is located in the poorest outskirts of Port-au-Prince and offers Haitian children various activities such as dancing and other sports.
In 2010, the centre was destroyed by the earthquake that devastated the country. Three years later, after rebuilding the centre, the religious said in an interview with Vatican Radio, “We try to give a hand to rebuild the values, the sense of dignity, the possibility of not being cursed, and that with the Good News, with the Gospel, God loves the Haitian people.”
Decision to remain in difficult moments
Despite the climate of violence that reigns in Haiti, the religious decided to stay, because as she explained: “if someone in your family is sick, it is not the time to leave them alone. This is when we are closest to the people. These people become our great family, the family also of the children of God, and in this family we share the joys and the sufferings.
Louise had been in Haiti for 20 years, serving the most needy, especially children. The dead Sister’s biological sister, Maria Adele Dell’Orto, told Vatican News that she feels comforted, despite her grief, to know that Sister Louise followed in the footsteps of her founder “today I think that she died like him (Saint Charles de Foucauld),” Maria Adele explained.
Pope’s tribute to Sister Luisa Dell’Orto
After the Angelus recitation this Sunday, June 26, Pope Francis sent his condolences to the religious community and the relatives of the murdered nun: “Sister Luisa made of her life a gift for others until martyrdom,” Francis said. The Pope also prayed for the people of Haiti that a serene future, free of misery and violence, will reign over the nation. (FM)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
