Missionary John Bradburne to be declared a saint
British war hero who was murdered by Mugabe's troops defending a leper colony in Zimbabwe is on the road to sainthood after Vatican begins process to bestow the honour on him
- British war hero who became a missionary in Africa will be recognised as a saint
- John Bradburne, 58, has been put on the road to sainthood by the Vatican
- He was murdered defending a leper colony in 1979 during Zimbabwe's civil war
- During the Second World War, he also spent a year in Burma with the Chindits
By Daily Mail Reporter and James Gant For Mailonline
8 July 2019
John Bradburne, 58, pictured, was shot in the back and dumped by a roadside in 1979 after he refused to abandon a leper colony during Zimbabwe’s civil war
A British war hero who became a missionary and was murdered by Robert Mugabe's henchmen as he defended lepers in Zimbabwe has been put on the road to sainthood by the Vatican.
John Bradburne, 58, was shot in the back and dumped by a roadside in 1979 after he refused to abandon a leper colony during Zimbabwe's civil war.
After he died, divine interventions - including a Scottish man who was cured of a brain tumour after praying to Bradburne - have been attributed to him.
This and a woman in South Africa who learned how to walk again will be put forward to show Bradburne's influence.
The mercenary was born in Cumbria to an Anglican cleric who in 1947 switched to Roman Catholicism.
During the Second World War, he spent a year in Burma with the Chindits, a special operations unit dropped behind Japanese lines to attack supply routes.
And he lasted 16 years moving across the world from 1956 after joining the Franciscan Order as a layman.
Bradburne finally settled at the Mutemwa colony, 100 miles away from Harare.
But in September 1979 he was labelled a spy and kidnapped by Mugabe supporters.
He was told he would be free if he fled the country, which he declined, and so was shot in the back as he prayed.
Even in death he was miraculous, as blood was said to have leaked out of his coffin.
Despite dying 40 years ago, Bradburne still draws crowds of 25,000 Zimbabwean pilgrims to his memorial annually.
The Vatican has issued a formal decree to begin a process that will conclude with his recognition as a saint. Mr Bradburne became a missionary and was murdered defending lepers in Africa
The Vatican has issued a formal decree to begin a process that will conclude with his recognition as a saint.
His 'Cause for Canonisation' will open with a mass at the Mutemwa colony in Zimbabwe on September 5. There will also be one at Westminster Cathedral.
Kate McPherson, of the John Bradburne Memorial Trust, said: 'What he put himself through for his patients is astounding.'
A file on Bradburne's life will now be sent to the Vatican and a search for the miracles to confirm his sainthood will begin.