Vatican confirms a Catholic priest was beheaded by insurgents

The Vatican news agency has confirmed that Father Francois Murad, member of the Catholic Franciscan order, was publically beheaded by Syrian and non-Syrian insurgents, including Chechens.

Rebels believed to be linked to the jihadist group al-Nusra Front of al-Qaeda Organization stormed the monastery in the Gassanieh area in the north of Syria and murdered the priest on June 23.

Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of Franciscans in the area said Syria had become a battleground and decried the war as “absurd” and “shameful.”