ASIA/IRAQ - Catholic priests taken hostage in Mosul still detained, Pope Benedict XVI calls for their release

Mosul (Agenzia Fides)- Fr. Pius Afas and Fr. Mazen Ishoa, the two Syrian-Catholic priests taken hostage in the Mosul, in northern Iraq, are still in the hands of their captors, but they are alive and in good condition the Syrian-Catholic Archbishop of Mosul, Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, told MISNA mission news agency. “At this stage it is most important to keep the door open for dialogue in the hope that we may soon embrace our priests once again. The kidnapers have requested money for their release ” said Archbishop Casmoussa.
The priests were taken hostage on 13 October while on their way to visit a family near Mosul, grieving the death of a relative. Fr. Pius Afas, aged 60, teaches Sacred Scripture at the local Seminary and for many years he was editor of a local magazine in Arabic “The Christian Thought”. Fr. Mazen Ishoa, aged 35, was ordained a priest only a few months ago: he has a university degree and it was during his military service that he heard the call to the priesthood.
Mosul Diocesan Centre says the kidnapping has nothing to do with politics the priests are detained by common criminals who are demanding ransom money. Pope Benedict XVI in his reflection after the Angelus on Sunday 14 October, called for the priests to be released, all violence in Iraq to end and for peace to be restored. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/10/2007 righe 20 parole 248)