Manila, Philippines, Aug 13, 2007 / 11:40 am
Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, the Italian priest held captive by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group for 39 days, was sent to Rome by his superiors on Saturday because of increased violence in the region he was assigned to.
He was accompanied by Fr. Gian Battista Zanchi, the superior general of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, to which Fr. Bossi belongs.
Prior to his departure, the 57-year-old missionary told the Filipino bishops’ CBCP News that he’s happy he’s leaving the country to meet his mother and brother and sister “but sad because he’s going home because I got kidnapped.”
Fr. Bossi was expected to have a two-day visit with his brother and sister in Rome before heading to his hometown of Abbiategrasso near Milan to visit with his elderly mother.