Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Monday August 18, 2025, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin and his delegation visited the Prince Louis Rwagasore Clinical Hospital. The visit was graced by the presence of the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Lydwine BARADAHANA, and the Director of the Prince LOUIS RWAGASORE Clinical Hospital, Dr. Bonite HAVYARIMANA.
In his speech, the Director of the Prince Louis Rwagasore Clinical Hospital said that this visit was part of the commemoration of Monsignor Michael Aidan Courtney, the Irish apostolic nuncio who was assassinated in Minago on December 29, 2003. He said that, after being seriously wounded, Monsignor Michael Aidan Courtney was taken directly to the Prince Louis Rwagasore Clinical Hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit but unfortunately died during surgery.
As for Cardinal Pietro Parolin, it was a pleasure to meet the Minister of Health, the doctor at the Prince Louis Rwagasore Clinic, the staff of the hospital, and the patients being treated there. He indicated that the visit was one of the objectives of his stay in Burundi in memory of Monsignor Courtney. He also mentioned that he visited all the places associated with his final moments at MINAGO and commemorated his death in a great ceremony of thanksgiving.
He said that it was a pleasure to be at the hospital where Monsignor Courtney breathed his last, but also a feeling of great sadness because the late Bishop Courtney was his friend and colleague. He said that it would be desirable for his sacrifice to be known as a seed that can bear fruit for the well-being, peace, and development of Burundi.
Finally, he expressed his deep gratitude for all that the staff of this hospital had done for the late nuncio Courtney and encouraged them in their great commitment to caring for the sick.
At the end of his stay in Burundi, His Eminence blessed the Burundians and emphasized that his visit had been a success and that each stage remained engraved in his heart. He warmly thanked the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, and the Government of Burundi, represented by the Vice-President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Prosper BAZOMBANZA, for their extraordinary hospitality, without forgetting all the heads of the various institutions and all the Christian communities of Burundi for their contribution to the success of this visit. “People of Burundi, you have an immense task ahead of you. Do not stray from the path that leads to true fraternal reconciliation and unity, which will enable you to overcome the obstacles of poverty and pursue the necessary development of your country. Remain faithful to the precious gifts of the noble tradition that your heritage carries. Be committed to respecting the rights of every human being to live freely and confident in their future. Strengthen peace on the land you inhabit. Entrust your sorrows and concerns to God, the Father of all love, to Christ the Savior, and to the Holy Spirit of truth,” he concluded.