After being informed of the tragic accident which claimed two Catholic Priests’ lives and left the other two injured, His Holiness Pope Francis has conveyed the following message of condolences to the mourning Church in Southern Africa, reported the SACBC Communication and Media Office:
“INFORMED OF THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF FATHERS OWEN WILCOCK AND SIBUSISO ZULU, FORMATORS AT SAINT JOHN VIANNEY SEMINARY, PRETORIA, HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS SENDS HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMENDS THEIR SOULS TO THE MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD. HE LIKEWISE PRAYS FOR THE RECOVERY OF FATHERS JOHN SELEMELA AND RICARDO SMUTS. UPON THE SEMINARY COMMUNITY AND THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS TRAGEDY, HIS HOLINESS INVOKES THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF CONSOLATION AND STRENGTH.
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
Secretary of State
Father Owen Wilcock will be laid to rest at East London in Port Elizabeth Diocese on Tuesday 10th December, while Fr Sibusiso Zulu will be laid to rest on Monday 09th December in Eshowe Diocese.
The other two priests who were injured during the accidents are still recovering before they go back to their respective duties.
