Three elderly Italian nuns have been burutlally slain at their convent in Burundi.
The Italian foreign ministry confirmed the slayings in Kamenge, near Bujumbura, Burundi's capital.
The ministry declined to give details, including exactly when the slayings occurred
The nuns were named as Lucia Pulici, aged 75, Olga Raschietti, aged 82, and Bernadetta Boggian, aged 79.
The Italian news agency Misna quoted the Rev. Mario Pulcini, as saying the bodies of two nuns were found Sunday afternoon by a third nun.
Rev. Pulcini said that during the night, other nuns telephoned him saying they feared the attacker was still in the convent.
By the time help arrived, the nun who had found the first two victims was herself found slain, Pulcini told Misna.
Local police in the city say they have detained two suspects, according to Reuters
The nuns' home diocese of Parma, Italy, said robbery appeared to be the motive.
Pope Francis, in a condolence telegram to Bujumbura's archbishop, said he "learned with great sadness of the murder" of the three "faithful and devout nuns in these tragic circumstances."
