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| Why Briton John Bradburne could become Zimbabwe's first Catholic saint | Why Briton John Bradburne could become Zimbabwe's first Catholic saint |
| (1 day later) | |
| "You're not safe here, John. You are going to be killed". The bearded lay missionary with long, straggly hair stopped playing his flute for a moment and then shrugging off the thought, resumed. | "You're not safe here, John. You are going to be killed". The bearded lay missionary with long, straggly hair stopped playing his flute for a moment and then shrugging off the thought, resumed. |
| A few days later, on 5 September 1979, John Bradburne would be dead. Abducted from his small hut in Mutemwa, north-east Zimbabwe, tortured and shot in the back - accused of being an informer. | A few days later, on 5 September 1979, John Bradburne would be dead. Abducted from his small hut in Mutemwa, north-east Zimbabwe, tortured and shot in the back - accused of being an informer. |
| The warning had been delivered by Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori, his friend and driver, as they wound their way through the dusty roads to Mutemwa's leper colony. | The warning had been delivered by Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori, his friend and driver, as they wound their way through the dusty roads to Mutemwa's leper colony. |
| The war of independence was encroaching on the settlement. And the Rhodesian forces had withdrawn from the area. | The war of independence was encroaching on the settlement. And the Rhodesian forces had withdrawn from the area. |
| "The [liberation war] guerrillas would never have killed him," Father Mukonori tells the BBC. He believes it was the work of Rhodesian special forces, pretending to be guerrillas fighting the white-minority government. | "The [liberation war] guerrillas would never have killed him," Father Mukonori tells the BBC. He believes it was the work of Rhodesian special forces, pretending to be guerrillas fighting the white-minority government. |
| Since his death, John Bradburne has become a revered figure in Zimbabwe's Catholic community. | Since his death, John Bradburne has become a revered figure in Zimbabwe's Catholic community. |
| Thousands travel to Mutemwa on annual pilgrimages to pray, and there is a growing movement within the church in support of his beatification. | Thousands travel to Mutemwa on annual pilgrimages to pray, and there is a growing movement within the church in support of his beatification. |
| The five steps to sainthood | The five steps to sainthood |
| Read more: How does someone become a saint? | Read more: How does someone become a saint? |
| A wanderer and somewhat eccentric, John Bradburne had arrived in Rhodesia 17 years earlier at the age of 41, looking for a "cave to pray in". | A wanderer and somewhat eccentric, John Bradburne had arrived in Rhodesia 17 years earlier at the age of 41, looking for a "cave to pray in". |
| He came with three wishes for this life: to care for people with leprosy, to die a martyr and to be buried in the Franciscan habit. | He came with three wishes for this life: to care for people with leprosy, to die a martyr and to be buried in the Franciscan habit. |
| The son of an English vicar, he had converted to Catholicism after serving in the British army in Malay and Burma, where he was injured in combat. | The son of an English vicar, he had converted to Catholicism after serving in the British army in Malay and Burma, where he was injured in combat. |
| He joined the Mutemwa leper colony in 1969 as a warden, making his home in a pre-fabricated tin hut, with a grass matt for his bed and few possessions. | He joined the Mutemwa leper colony in 1969 as a warden, making his home in a pre-fabricated tin hut, with a grass matt for his bed and few possessions. |
| Working for the leper colony brought him validation he never received in his middle-class existence in the UK. | Working for the leper colony brought him validation he never received in his middle-class existence in the UK. |
| "He said to me: 'From the day I set my eyes on these people, I discovered I am also a leper among my own people'," Father Mukonori says. | "He said to me: 'From the day I set my eyes on these people, I discovered I am also a leper among my own people'," Father Mukonori says. |
| He remembers Bradburne saying: "Working for and with them I feel appreciated, that I am doing something good and they call me Baba [Father] John." | He remembers Bradburne saying: "Working for and with them I feel appreciated, that I am doing something good and they call me Baba [Father] John." |
| 'He had few possessions, only love' | 'He had few possessions, only love' |
| Colleta Mafuta, 78, is one of the few surviving people with leprosy whom he cared for. Her hands were eaten away by the disease as a child and she came to Mutemwa for treatment. | Colleta Mafuta, 78, is one of the few surviving people with leprosy whom he cared for. Her hands were eaten away by the disease as a child and she came to Mutemwa for treatment. |
| "He arrived with few possessions, only love," she recalls. | "He arrived with few possessions, only love," she recalls. |
| "The colony was filthy and the people were dirty. There was no medication, no clothes and people went hungry. He took care of everyone's needs - feeding people, and washing and bandaging our sores." | "The colony was filthy and the people were dirty. There was no medication, no clothes and people went hungry. He took care of everyone's needs - feeding people, and washing and bandaging our sores." |
| Every day for a decade, the routine was the same. He was up at 03:00 to bathe the leprosy patients; they were fed at 07:00. Then he would help carry them to a church service, before taking a five km (three mile) run. | Every day for a decade, the routine was the same. He was up at 03:00 to bathe the leprosy patients; they were fed at 07:00. Then he would help carry them to a church service, before taking a five km (three mile) run. |
| Bradburne was also a poet, who composed songs of worship and religious verse. In one he describes himself as the "Vagabond of God". | Bradburne was also a poet, who composed songs of worship and religious verse. In one he describes himself as the "Vagabond of God". |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| With his trademark red headband, he was a striking figure who clashed with other leaders in the settlement. | With his trademark red headband, he was a striking figure who clashed with other leaders in the settlement. |
| His family attributes it to his efforts to prevent the exploitation of leprosy patients and his demand that patients be treated with dignity. | His family attributes it to his efforts to prevent the exploitation of leprosy patients and his demand that patients be treated with dignity. |
| Becoming a saint | Becoming a saint |
| Since his death, several people have claimed miraculous healings after praying to him. | Since his death, several people have claimed miraculous healings after praying to him. |
| This satisfies one condition for sainthood in the Catholic Church. It is also said that at his funeral, held in Harare, a speck of unexplained blood appeared below his coffin. | This satisfies one condition for sainthood in the Catholic Church. It is also said that at his funeral, held in Harare, a speck of unexplained blood appeared below his coffin. |
| However, it took years for the Vatican to agree to his family's request to consider him for sainthood. | However, it took years for the Vatican to agree to his family's request to consider him for sainthood. |
| His niece Kate Macpherson took over the push for beatification from her late mother, Celia Brigstocke. Mrs Brigstocke had formed the John Bradburne Memorial Trust in 1995, as a charity and as a vehicle to push for his sainthood. | His niece Kate Macpherson took over the push for beatification from her late mother, Celia Brigstocke. Mrs Brigstocke had formed the John Bradburne Memorial Trust in 1995, as a charity and as a vehicle to push for his sainthood. |
| "She came here many times and saw the miracles, and saw the people and the love," Mrs Macpherson says. | "She came here many times and saw the miracles, and saw the people and the love," Mrs Macpherson says. |
| "It was actually people who were getting in contact with her - religious people, lay people - just saying there is something more to this. Every year momentum gathered, and testimonies were coming in hundreds of thousands. | "It was actually people who were getting in contact with her - religious people, lay people - just saying there is something more to this. Every year momentum gathered, and testimonies were coming in hundreds of thousands. |
| "It's not everyone who can say: 'My great-uncle could be a saint'," she laughs, "this is a unique and surreal thing." | "It's not everyone who can say: 'My great-uncle could be a saint'," she laughs, "this is a unique and surreal thing." |
| What is leprosy? | What is leprosy? |
| Source: World Health Organization | Source: World Health Organization |
| This year the Vatican approved what is called "the opening of the cause" to canonise Bradburne. | This year the Vatican approved what is called "the opening of the cause" to canonise Bradburne. |
| The formal process involves presenting arguments for and against a candidate being made a saint. | The formal process involves presenting arguments for and against a candidate being made a saint. |
| Thousands of curious church members flocked to the mass, held on 5 September to coincide with commemorations of the anniversary of his death. | Thousands of curious church members flocked to the mass, held on 5 September to coincide with commemorations of the anniversary of his death. |
| There were no opposers to the cause. | There were no opposers to the cause. |
| It means that the local church will now establish a team to investigate the testimonies, then compile a report to be sent to Rome's Congregation of Saints. | It means that the local church will now establish a team to investigate the testimonies, then compile a report to be sent to Rome's Congregation of Saints. |
| If another miracle is recorded in his name then he is likely to be declared a saint. | If another miracle is recorded in his name then he is likely to be declared a saint. |
| Only one other Briton has been canonised in the last 40 years. A Victorian cardinal called John Henry Newman, who died over 120 years ago, will be canonised later this year. | |
| Bradburne's supporters believe the momentum is there for him to be beatified. Their only hope is that it will be achieved in their lifetime. | Bradburne's supporters believe the momentum is there for him to be beatified. Their only hope is that it will be achieved in their lifetime. |
| A ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of John Bradburne's death is to be held at Westminster Cathedral in London, UK, on Saturday 21 September. | A ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of John Bradburne's death is to be held at Westminster Cathedral in London, UK, on Saturday 21 September. |