Vatican expresses relief at release of two Iraqi priests

Published: 2007-10-22

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican expressed relief at the release of two Iraqi priests who had been kidnapped and threatened with death. After spending a week in captivity, the Syrian-rite priests were freed near Mosul, Iraq, Oct. 21 and were reported safe at their church inside the city. Their abductors had asked for $1 million in ransom; it was not known if any money was paid for their release. A week earlier, Pope Benedict XVI had appealed to the kidnappers to free the priests unharmed. The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, confirmed that the priests had been released. "We are very happy about their liberation. We had followed this episode very closely and were deeply concerned," Father Lombardi said. The two priests were identified by Iraqi church officials as Father Pius Affas, 60, and Father Mazen Ishoa, 35. They were apparently on their way to a church service on the outskirts of Mosul when they were seized.

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