DIBRUGARH, May 26 � Vatican has granted permission to initiate investigation for conferring Sainthood on French missionaries Nicholas Michael Krick and Augustine Etienne Bourry, who were killed in Somme village of Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh in 1854.
The authorisation for conduct of the investigation was officially announced by Vatican Ambassador to India, Selvatore Pennachio during his two-day visit to Miao in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Krick, a French national, had arrived as priest to Sadiya on September 26, 1851. In 1852, he made his first visit to Tibet. In 1854, he made the second trip and was killed at Somme village on August 2. Boury on the other hand, reached Guwahati as a priest in 1853, travelled and met his Superior Krick at Saikhowa on July 22, 1853. On February 19, Krick and Boury left Saikhowa on their journey to Tibet. A letter of July 29, reported that Boury was sick. He was reportedly killed on his sick bed on August 2, 1854. Along with Krick, the villagers buried him at Somme.
The investigation on the two missionaries will now be conducted locally by a diocesan tribunal headed by Bishop George Palliparambil of Miao diocese.
The person investigated is given the first official title Servant of God. The findings and other documentations will be later forwarded to the Vatican for further stages leading to Sainthood.
Thousands of tribal Christians of Anjaw, Changlang, Dibang valley, Longding, Lower Dibang valley, Lohit and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh had congregated to listen to the message from the Pope through the Vatican envoy. Arch Bishop John Moolachira of Guwahati diocese and four other Bishops from the region were accompanying the envoy during his stay in Miao.
The Vatican Ambassador who was mesmerised by the scenic beauty of the region and its multi ethnic people said that the richness must be preserved and maintained at all cost. �The unique colourful ethnic dances, cultures and traditions along with the rich vegetation of the regions is marvelous. The ecology must stay and the people of diverse cultures must preserve it to reap its benefits. We must learn to love people, respect people and protect the rich environment of the hilly terrain ,� he said.
