CNA Staff, Oct 9, 2020 / 02:00 am
An Italian Catholic priest was freed Thursday two years after he was kidnapped by a jihadist group.
The office of the president of Mali announced Oct. 8 the liberation of Fr. Pierluigi Maccalli, a member of the Society of African Missions.
He was one of four hostages released this week by fighters believed to be linked to al-Qaeda, including another Italian, Nicola Chiacchio.
The news was confirmed by Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio.
"Good news: Fr. Pier Luigi Maccalli and Nicola Chiacchio are finally free and well," he wrote on Twitter, thanking the Italian intelligence services for helping to secure their release.
The 59-year-old priest, from Crema in northern Italy, was kidnapped on Sept. 17, 2018, in an isolated parish in southwest Niger, near the border with Burkina Faso.
He appeared in a short video in April, filmed by his captors, which confirmed that he was still alive.
He is believed to have been liberated in northern Mali.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA