Vatican 'deeply sorrowed' by Archbishop's killing

The Vatican expressed “deep sorrow and dismay” today over the killing of Tipperary native Archbishop Michael Courtney.

Archbishop Courtney, 58, was gunned down in an ambush south of the Burundian capital Bujumbura yesterday after attending the funeral of a priest.

Pope John Paul called Dr Courtney a loyal and unselfish servant of the Church.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern underscored his shock at what had happened and condemned what he called the “horrific attack“.

Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady said he was “deeply shocked” at the news.

Extending his sympathy to the Courtney family, he said it was typical of the late archbishop’s “noble, generous spirit that he should have met his death while returning from a pastoral visit to one of the dioceses in Burundi“.

Dr Diarmuid Martin, the Coadjutor Archbishop of Dublin, said he was “absolutely stunned” and described Dr Courtney’s killing as “a very nasty piece of work“.

Irish Cardinal Desmond Connell said he was “greatly distressed by the tragic news of the murder“.