Vatican City, Sep 12, 2006 / 22:00 pm
A young Chaldean priest kidnapped last August 15 in Baghdad was released on Monday. Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel Delly confirmed that Father Saad Sirop Hanna “is well, at home and will finally be able to return to his work at the parish in Baghdad.”
Father Hanna was kidnapped in the Iraqi capital after celebrating the feast of the Assumption of Mary. Both Pope Benedict XVI and Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel appealed for his immediate release.
“He has been freed and he is well; that is the only thing that matters now,” the patriarch told the MISNA news agency.
He also expressed his joy at the “good news” and thanked “all those who worked to attain the release of Father Hanna.”
Pope Benedict had issued an appeal for the release of the priest in mid-August.
The reason for the kidnapping and release is not yet clear.