Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - Joy and relief: with these sentiments Catholics in the Philippines welcomed the new of the release on 19 July of the Italian PIME missionary Fr Giancarlo Bossi after 39 days of captivity. The missionary was set free in the city of Karumatan, Lanao del Norte Province not far from Payao, in the south of the island of Mindanao. Fr Bossi is well, although very weak. The police suspect the captors were members of a break away group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front anxious to negotiate with the Philippines government.
The news of his release was announced from Zamboanga, where Fr. Bossi was taken after his release. The news was welcomed by the Philippines Bishops' Conference and also Pope Benedict XVI expressed "great joy" the Holy See spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said. Pime Superior General Fr Gian Battista Zanchi had this to say: “We are all deeply moved and wish to thank the Lord for allowing all this to happen and also to thank governments and individuals who worked for his release ”.
Fr Bossi said he was held captive in the area of the village of Payao where his parish is. Over the past few days it was clear that mediation was underway and that the outcome would be positive. Mindanao police chief Jaime Caringal said that no ransom was paid for the release of Fr Bossi and that the priest had been treated with respect. Fr Bossi said he never felt his life was in danger and he that before returning to Italy to his family and friends he would like visit his parishioners.
His ordeal had a happy ending like the kidnapping of his confrere Fr. Luciano Benedetti, taken hostage and then released in 1999. Mindanao is notorious for hostage taking “business” of westerners and business men for extortion. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2007 righe 27 parole 279)
