Sister Leonella Sgorbati is buried in Kenya:

In his homily, Giorgio Bertin, bishop of Djibouti and Somalia, noted the smile on the face of Sgorbati, whose body was laid out for viewing. He urged mourners to draw positive lessons from her years working for the poor in Somalia and Kenya.

"CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM DIE TOGETHER"

"Her life shows that a new earth is possible, that a new Somalia is possible," Bertin said, adding it was probably no coincidence a Somali bodyguard died with her.

"The death of an Italian with a Somali, a European with an African, a white with someone almost black, a Christian with a Muslim, a woman with a man, tells us that it is possible to live together as we die together," he added.

Sgorbati, 65, had worked for the Consolation order since 1963, spending three decades in Kenya before transferring to Somalia where she taught nursing at the SOS children’s hospital.

Often warned of the threat, the nuns had in the past also suffered a kidnapping and bomb.

"I hope Sister Leonella will be the last of the martyrs for Somalia," Bertin added in his address.

The United Nations’ special envoy to Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, appealed to all involved in the current standoff between Mogadishu-based Islamists and Yusuf’s provincial-based interim government to work for peace.

"I wish I could paint a bright picture for Somalia today, but there are too many clouds, too many uncertainties on the horizon. … I appeal once again to everyone with interest in a batter future for Somalia, to give this peace process a chance."