India's Foreign Minister tweeted out on Tuesday that
Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, a missionary priest kidnapped in Aden and kept in captivity by Yemeni militants for 18 months, has been released. The confirmation was tweeted by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sept. 12.
"I am happy to inform that Father Tom Uzhunnalil has been rescued," tweeted Swaraj.
After much effort to secure Uzhunnalil's release since March 2016, the Indian government has brought good news not only to the Christian community, but also to the entire nation.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India expressed its joy on getting the news of his release.
"As we thank God for this unique grace bestowed on Fr. Tom and his family and the Salesian Congregation (The Society of Don Bosco) and the Catholic Church in India, we pray for his continued good health and complete recovery to resume active Salesian ministry for God and His people in his Congregation and the Church," said CBCI in a statement.
The Omani government confirmed in the statement that the priest was recovering in Muscat after his release.
"In response to the Royal Orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and as per a request from the Vatican to assist in the rescuing of a Vatican employee, the concerned authorities in the Sultanate, in coordination with the Yemeni authorities, have managed to find a Vatican government employee. He was transferred this morning to Muscat in preparation for his return home," said the Omani government.
Uzhunnalil was kidnapped after terrorists attacked a home for elderly run by the Missionaries of Charity nuns in Aden. The attackers shot dead 16 people, including four nuns and kidnapped the priest, who served as chaplain of the house.
The priest belongs to Salesians of Don Bosco's Bangalore province.
In May this year, a video message was released in which a thin-looking Uzhunnalil begged Pope Francis to personally intervene and expressed frustration that the church had not done more to secure his freedom.
Swaraj had made several statements mentioning the efforts to secure the Uzhunnalil's freedom. Recently, she told that the Indian government had listed priest's release as its highest priority.
