Cameroon: missionaries abducted in April are released

June 02, 2014

Three Catholic missionaries who were kidnapped in Cameroon in April—two Italian priests and a Canadian nun—have been freed.

Fathers Gianantonio Allegri and Don Giampaolo Marta, Fidei Donum priests; and Sister Gilberte Bussier of the Sisters of Our Lady of Montreal were abducted on April 4. At the time, there were suspicions that they had been seized by members of Boko Haram, the terrorist group operating mostly in neighboring Nigeria. But the blame for the kidnapping has never been clearly fixed on any group.

Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization, who was in Cameroon when the released missionaries arrived, met with them and reported that they “were excited and happy and, I must say, in good physical and psychological condition.” The cardinal said that Church officials had “no inkling” that the hostages would be freed until just before their release. He said that civil authorities in Cameroon as still trying to identify the kidnappers.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Missionaries released: "A grace of God and a time of joy for the Church", said Cardinal Filoni who met them (Fides)
• Declaration of the Director of the Holy See Press Office for the Liberation of the Missionaries Abducted in Cameroon (VIS)
• Priests, nun kidnapped in Cameroon; Boko Haram suspected (CWN, 4/7)