Pope Francis - courtesy

Pope Francis has expressed sadness over the killing of two Catholic reverend sisters on Monday in South Sudan.

Both Sister Mary Abbud and Sister Regina Roba are members of the congregation of the Sacred Heart Sisters of the Archdiocese of Juba.

The reverend sisters were killed by gunmen on Monday as they were returning from the centenary celebrations that concluded at Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Loa.

They were killed around Kubi on the Juba-Nimule highway.

In a telegram sent through the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pope Francis offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the families and religious community in South Sudan.

He described the killing as a wave of “senseless act of violence”.

The Pontiff expressed his hope that the death of the two nuns “will advance the cause of peace, reconciliation and security in the country.”

The Catholic Archdiocese of Juba yesterday announced five days of mourning of the reverend sisters.

During this period, the Catholic Secretariat and its institutions, such as schools and seminaries will remain closed down until this Friday.

The requiem mass for the two reverend sisters will take place this Friday at Saint Theresa’s Cathedral, Kator from 9AM.