Pope Francis said he is happy and grateful to God for the liberation of Father Pierluigi Macalli, the Italian missionary priest who was kidnapped in Niger on September 17, 2018. Fr. Macalli was released on October 8, after two years of imprisonment in the hands of jihadist militants together with three other hostages.

Speaking after the Angelus prayer, on Sunday October 18,  the Pope said: “I wish to thank God for the long-awaited release of Father Pierluigi Macalli who was kidnapped two years ago in Niger.”

The Pope also expressed joy for the release of the other hostages and said “We continue to pray for missionaries and Catechists and for all those who are persecuted or kidnapped in various parts of the world.”

WORLD MISSION DAY

The Pope’s words came on World Mission Day, celebrated by the Church today with the theme taken from the Book of Isaiah, “Baptized and Sent--Weavers of fraternity”.

World Mission Day, or Mission Sunday, was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926, to remind Catholics about their commitment and support to the missionary work of the Church through prayer and sacrifice.

Emphasizing the precious work of evangelization carried out by lay and consecrated persons, the Pope commented on the word “weavers” saying every Christian is called to be a weaver of fraternity.

“In a special way, missionaries, priests, laity and consecrated persons who sow the Gospel in the great field of the world are called to be weavers of fraternity,” he said: “We pray for them and give them our concrete support.”

POPE DECRIES VIOLENCE IN LIBYA, PRAYS FOR PEACE

Pope Francis on Sunday, October 18, decried continuing hostilities and violence in Libya and prayed for fruitful peace negotiations taking place at an international level.

He turned his thoughts to a group of Italian and Tunisian fishermen who were seized on 1 September by Libyan patrol boats, accused of fishing in territorial waters, and still detained in Benghazi.

Speaking after the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope said "I pray for the various talks taking place at the international level, that they may be relevant for the future of Libya.”

“The time has come to stop all forms of hostility and encourage dialogue that will lead to peace and stability in the country,” he said.

Mentioning the plight of the fishermen and his closeness also to their families, he asked those present in the square to pray together for the fishermen and for Libya, in silence.

"I would like to address a word of encouragement and support to the fishermen stopped more than a month ago in Libya and their families,” the Pope said and he invoked Our Lady Star of the Sea to keep the hope alive that they will soon be able to embrace their loved ones.