The father superior of a monastery in central France disappeared before being found injured. An investigation for kidnapping has been opened while the possibility of a settling of scores between religious people is also mentioned.
On the night of June 23 to 24, Father Placide, superior of the Benedictines of Notre-Dame de Bellaigue for 15 years, mysteriously disappeared. The latter was allegedly kidnapped before finally being found injured more than two days after his disappearance.
The absence of the religious was noted during the first prayer of the day according to the daily The Mountain. An email announcing his intention to resign was also said to have been sent during the night from his voicemail. His room was also reportedly emptied and cleaned.
Monks then notified the police of his disappearance. According to some monks interviewed by the daily, their abbot did not leave “of his own accord”.
Police officers, helicopters and criminal investigation technicians participated in the search which led to the discovery of Father Placide, alive but with traces of beatings, in an isolated station in Haute-Vienne after more than two days of searching.
Tensions at the origin of the aggression?
According to the French media, tensions within the monastery could be at the origin of this possible kidnapping.
A group of 11 monks appeared at the monastery on the day of his disappearance to propose a new organization within the monastic enclosure with the aim of taking control of it, according to The Mountain.
A sort of dissidence which would include former monks of Bellaigue who would have slammed the door of the monastery.
Investigators are still seeking to identify the perpetrators of this possible kidnapping and establish the motive.
