Kidnapped Catholic Priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil Freed, Thanks 'God Almighty'

Leah Marieann Klett : Sep 14, 2017
GospelHerald.com

"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." -Catholic bishops of India

(India)— [GospelHerald.com] Father Tom Uzhunnalil, the Catholic priest kidnapped last March by Islamic extremists in Yemen, has thanked "God Almighty" after being freed from captivity. (Photo: 'Father Tom' Uzhunnalil/YouTube/ via Gospel Herald)

The news was officially announced by Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in a Sept. 12 tweet that read: "I am happy to inform that Father Tom Uzhunnalil has been rescued."

According to the state-run Oman News Agency, "Father Tom" was reportedly set free after the intervention of the Oman foreign ministry and has already arrived in the Omani capital of Muscat. He is expected to return to his home in Kerala, India shortly, Catholic News Agency reports.

In a statement from Oman News Agency, which was published in the Oman Observer, Fr. Tom had "expressed thanks to God Almighty" following his release.

"In compliance ... His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Oman in coordination with the Yemeni parties have managed find a Vatican priest," the statement read, adding that Fr. Tom "has been transferred to Muscat from where he will return to his home in Kerala."

A statement from the Holy See said Fr. Tom "will remain for a few days in a Salesian community in Rome before going home to India"...

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