Italian doctor killed in former Rhodesia on road to sainthood

Luisa Guidotti Mistrali

An Italian doctor killed in former Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1979, is on the road to sainthood. on 23 November, the Archbishop of Modena Mgr Antonio Lanfranchi, announced that the diocesan phase of the beatification process has been completed.

Luisa Guidotti Mistrali was born in Parma, May 17, 1932, she moved to Modena with the family at the death of her mother. After high school she enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine. These are the "preconciliar years - writes Luisa - the era in which there was awareness of the role of the laity in the Church". And again: "I wanted to go on a mission as a doctor, to go on forever, being a lay among the laity".

In 1960, Luisa asked to be part of the Association of Women Doctor Missionaries and in August 1966 she went to Rhodesia, to work in the Paul VI hospital in Chirund. Because of local events she was forced to return to Italy for a few months. She then left for Africa again, her first destination was Regina Coeli Mission hospital and then the All Souls mission.

On July 6, 1979 while she was accompanying a pregnant woman at risk to Nyadiri, Luisa 's car was hit by a barrage of gunfire. She was transported to the government hospital in Mutoko, but unfortunately she was already dead. In 1983, the All Souls hospital was dedicated to Luisa Guidotti Mistrali. On 23 October 1988 at the request of the Archbishop of Modena, her remains were transferred to the Cathedral of Modena.

The process of canonization was opened in 1996.

Source: Fides