Two Catholic monks killed in Moscow

On October 28 at 21:20 in the apartment at 19 Petrovka Street, building 5, which belongs to the religious organization of the Order of the Roman Catholic Church "Independent Russian Region of the Society of Jesus", two Catholic monks, a Russian citizen Otto Messmer and Ecuadorian citizen Victor Betancourt.

A criminal case was initiated under paragraph "a" part 2 of article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (murder).

The head of the Catholic Archdiocese in Moscow, Paolo Pezzi, noted that he was grieving over the incident. "We can only pray for the repose of the souls of the dead," he added.

Sources

• A Russian and an Ecuadorian, members of the Jesuit order, were killed in Moscow // Interfax-religion. 2008. October 29.
• Moscow launches investigation into murder of two Jesuits // Interfax-religion. 2008. October 29.
• On Wednesday evening, a memorial mass will be held in Moscow for two murdered Catholic priests. // Interfax-religion. 2008. October 29.