“The last words, which are quite reassuring, I received indirectly about 10 days ago. I was told that Father Tom is alive, and that his return to freedom could be imminent. But since then nothing hICC Note:The Indian priest kidnapped from a nursing home, where 16 people were killed, is still in the hands of ISIS facing an uncertain future. Father Tom Uzhannalil was initially rumored to have been crucified on Good Friday, though, these reports were proven untrue soon after. The Father was taken during a terror raid on a Catholic Charity-run retirement home in Aden, many nuns and elderly were killed during the attack. Negotiations are ongoing concerning his release.
05/04/2016 Yemen (Christian Post): Father Tom Uzhunnalil, the Indian priest kidnapped two months ago from a nursing home in Yemen where 16 people were killed, is still alive at the hands of Islamic State radicals, according to rumors, but his fate remains uncertain.as happened. We hope and pray for him,” Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, told Agenzia Fides in an update on Tuesday.
The priest was initially feared to have been crucified by the extremists on Good Friday, but subsequent information from the Catholic Church denied the rumor, instead suggesting that he was still alive and that negotiations are being carried out with IS for his release.
Uzhunnalil was taken during a terror raid on a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, where four nuns taking care of the elderly were also killed.
The Indian clergyman’s fate has attracted international attention, and Pope Francis has also shared his prayers for him.
“Dear brothers and sisters, in the hope given to us by the Risen Christ, I renew my appeal for the freeing of all kidnapped persons in armed conflict zones,” the pontiff told the crowds at the Vatican earlier in April.
“In particular, I wish to remember Salesian priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Aden, Yemen last March 4,” he added.
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