VATICAN CITY, JUL 20, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday evening the pope expressed his joy on the liberation of the fifty-seven year old Italian missionary Giancarlo Bossi, abducted June 10 on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.
The release yesterday of Fr. Bossi of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), said the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., "brings great joy to the entire Church and also for the Holy Father".
Upon arriving at the Italian alpine region of Lorenzago di Cadore this past July 9 for a brief period of rest, Benedict XVI communicated that he was following the situation closely, praying each and every day for the release of the priest abducted in the Philippines.
"It seems", said Fr. Lombardi, "that our prayers have been answered. We now hope that Fr. Bossi may tranquilly return to his missionary duties and that there be no further abductions or other episodes of violence in the region."
OP/ABDUCTED MISSIONARY/LOMBARDI VIS 20070720 (170)
The release yesterday of Fr. Bossi of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), said the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., "brings great joy to the entire Church and also for the Holy Father".
Upon arriving at the Italian alpine region of Lorenzago di Cadore this past July 9 for a brief period of rest, Benedict XVI communicated that he was following the situation closely, praying each and every day for the release of the priest abducted in the Philippines.
"It seems", said Fr. Lombardi, "that our prayers have been answered. We now hope that Fr. Bossi may tranquilly return to his missionary duties and that there be no further abductions or other episodes of violence in the region."
OP/ABDUCTED MISSIONARY/LOMBARDI VIS 20070720 (170)
