Pope Francis has met with the Indian priest who was held by Islamic militants in Yemen for 18 months. The Indian government announced on Sept.12 that Salesian Father Tom Uzhunnalil – a missionary priest kidnapped in Yemen on March 4, 2016, at a home for the elderly in the southern port city of Aden where he served as a chaplain – had been released.
He arrived in Rome 12th evening to recuperate at the Salesian headquarters before returning to India.
Uzhunnalil was kidnapped during an attack on the missionary compound in which gunmen posing as relatives of one of the residents at the home burst inside, killing sixteen people, including four Indian nuns belonging to the Missionaries of Charity, the order of founded by Mother Teresa.
He met with Francis on September 13 in the Casa Santa Marta, immediately following the general audience.
“The Holy See strongly thanks those who have been working for its find, in particular, His Majesty the Sultan of Oman and the competent authorities of the Sultanate.”
The Press Room also announces that “the religious will be visiting for a few days in a Salesian community in Rome before departing for India.”
