Originally published at National Catholic Register
The fire also affected three adjacent houses and a workshop, injuring six people.
A fire on Friday devastated St. Anthony of Padua Church and a Franciscan convent in the city of Iquique, Chile. The prosecutor’s office has not ruled out arson.
“We are facing here such a lamentable situation, a tragedy in terms of our heritage, in terms of the parish church of St. Anthony of Padua that burned down, as well as the Franciscan convent,” the bishop of Iquique, Isauro Covili, said in a video posted by the diocese on Facebook Oct. 11.
“[It’s] a building, as we all know, so historic and important for the city and the region. We are really hurting because of the fire and everything that it means,” the prelate added, alluding to the fact that in 1994 the site was declared a historical monument in the country.
“It’s all been reduced to nothing, but we also know that the Church, the body of Jesus Christ, the living body of Jesus, will go on just the same in the midst of grief, tragedy, and tears to continue to celebrate with joy and hope the faith and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,” the bishop
