Kidnappings

The Latest

Father Isaac Agabi, a parish priest in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi, was abducted and tortured in 2020 and still suffers physical and psyschoigcal effects of his ordeal.

Nigerian priest recounts abductee ordeal, attributes escape to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Apr 4, 2025

By Abah Anthony John

Father Isaac Agabi recounted his ordeal at the hands of kidnappers and recommended that major seminaries in Nigeria consider teaching... Read more

Participants in the three-day planned peaceful protests in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi from March 25–27, 2025, emphasized the need for improved security and called for an end to abductions targeting the clergy that have resulted in deaths of some of the abductees.

3-day peaceful protests in Nigerian diocese call for end to abductions, killings

Apr 3, 2025

By Abah Anthony John

A group of protesters in Nigeria called for the enforcement of an anti-grazing law to curb the activities of armed... Read more

An African nun prays the rosary. On Jan. 7, 2025, two religious sisters were kidnapped in the Archdiocese of Onitsha in Nigeria.

Appeal for ‘fervent prayers’ issued for religious sisters kidnapped in southeastern Nigeria

Jan 10, 2025

By Jude Atemanke

IHM Secretary General in Nigeria Sister Maria Sobenna Ikeotuonye announced the abduction of Sisters Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette... Read more

Father Jude Nwachukwu (left) and Father Kenneth Kanwa were kidnapped from their parish rectory in the Diocese of Pankshin in Nigeria on Feb. 1, 2024.

Two priests kidnapped from parish rectory in Nigeria

Feb 6, 2024

By Jude Atemanke

A religious missionary order in Nigeria is appealing for the safe release of two of its members who were abducted... Read more

People walk by the entrance of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne in Port-au-Prince, Jan. 22, 2024. Eight people, including six nuns, were kidnapped Jan. 19 in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, according to the country's association of religious orders, amid an ongoing upswing in abductions.

Abducted Haitian nuns released amid ongoing gang violence 

Jan 25, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The release of the six religious sisters, along with their two drivers, was confirmed to Vatican News by Archbishop Max... Read more

Archbishop of Port-au-Prince Max Leroy Mésidor.

Catholic Church in Haiti holds day of prayer for release of 6 kidnapped nuns, others

Jan 24, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

A day of prayer, meditation, and Eucharistic adoration was held Jan. 24 to intercede for the release of the people... Read more

null

Priest says migrants in northern Mexico are being kidnapped on a constant basis

Jan 5, 2024

By Diego López Colín

Mexican authorities reported Jan. 3 the rescue of 31 migrants who had been kidnapped the night of Dec. 30 on... Read more

Nigerian priest Father Kingsley Eze was kidnapped Nov. 30, 2023, traveling to a sick call.

Parish priest in Nigeria abducted while answering sick call

Dec 5, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

Father Kingsley Eze, parish priest of St. Michael’s Umuekebi Catholic Church in Nigeria’s Imo state, was kidnapped Nov. 30 and... Read more

Brother Godwin Eze.

‘I am prepared to die a martyr’: Freed Nigerian monk recounts kidnapping, murder of brother monk

Nov 30, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

Brother Peter Olarewaju recounts the horrific kidnapping and torture he and other monks suffered, including the murder of a brother... Read more

Liverpool's Colombian midfielder Luis Diaz controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool, northwest England on Sept. 3, 2022.

Colombian bishops call for release of kidnapped father of soccer star and others 

Nov 9, 2023

By Andrés Henríquez

The bishops called for the immediate release of Luis Manuel Díaz, the kidnapped father of Colombian soccer star Luis Díaz,... Read more

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Diocese of Sokoto in Nigeria.

Nigerian bishop: Tens of thousands spent to rescue kidnapped priests, seminarians

Nov 3, 2023

By ACI Africa

Most of the money has been spent rescuing priests, seminarians, and other pastoral caregivers who were kidnapped by various militia... Read more

null

Monk killed after kidnapping from Nigerian monastery eulogized as prayerful, easygoing

Oct 25, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

Brother Godwin Eze was kidnapped Oct. 17 alongside two others from the Benedictine monastery in Eruku, Nigeria, located in the... Read more

null

Monk shot, body thrown in river following kidnapping at Nigerian monastery

Oct 24, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

A diocese in Nigeria announced that Brother Godwin Eze, a monk who was kidnapped with two others from a Benedictine... Read more

Three nuns, a seminarian, and the driver of the vehicle they were in were abducted in Nigeria’s Imo State on Oct. 5, 2023. The nuns’ order, the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae, appealed for their safe release in an Oct. 6 statement. The group was released Oct. 13-14, 2023.

Religious congregation grateful after release of abducted nuns, seminarian in Nigeria

Oct 19, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Three Catholic nuns, a seminarian, and their driver were abducted from Nigeria’s Abakaliki Diocese on Oct. 5 and released Oct.... Read more

Three nuns, a seminarian, and the driver of the vehicle they were in were abducted in Nigeria’s Imo State on Oct. 5, 2023. The nuns’ order, the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae, appealed for their safe release in an Oct. 6 statement.

Sisters issue appeal for ‘safe release’ of 3 nuns who were abducted from Nigerian diocese

Oct 11, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

The vicar general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria said five people were abducted Oct. 5 in... Read more

A road in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Human rights group to Nigeria security agents after priest’s kidnapping: ‘Act or resign’

Sep 20, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has condemned the Sept. 16-17 kidnapping of more than 30... Read more

null

Church prays for release of kidnapped priest and seminarian in Nigeria

Aug 9, 2023

By Diego López Marina

Father Paul Sanogo and seminarian Melkiori Dominick Mahinini were kidnapped early in the morning of Aug. 3 in Niger state. Read more

Father Matthias Opara was freed May 28, 2023, after spending three days in captivity in Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.

Catholic priest in Nigeria freed on Pentecost Sunday after three days in captivity

May 30, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Father Matthias Opara, a Nigerian Catholic priest who was abducted on May 26 while returning from a funeral, has been... Read more

Four Israeli families who have been fighting to see their children for eight and a half years met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Dec. 21, 2022. Two young men are still alive, kidnapped by Hamas. Two others died, but their bodies were not returned, thus preventing a proper burial, one of the Jewish mitzvahs. Three are Jews, and one is Muslim.

Families of Israeli captives in Gaza Strip appeal to Pope Francis

Jan 8, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

When Pope Francis once again launched the appeal for peace in the Holy Land, he probably had in his eyes... Read more

Five priests, a nun, and three lay people were abducted Sept. 16, 2022, after gunmen attacked their parish in Mamfe Diocese, Cameroon.

Priests abducted in Cameroon last month plead for release in new video

Oct 19, 2022

By Jude Atemanke

In the video circulated Oct. 19, one of the abductees provides updates about their welfare and pleads with their bishop... Read more

Latest news

Catholic Relief Services distributes food for school children at one of the schools in the Department of Totonicapán, Guatemala, with the help of parent volunteers.

Catholic Relief Services loses federal funds for 11 of 13 international food aid programs

Participants at a May 22, 2025, afternoon vigil to honor the two lives lost in an attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., the night before hold signs reading “Christians and Jews united against hate.”

Catholics show solidarity after terrorist attack kills 2 Israeli officials in Washington, DC

null

Bishops applaud Educational Choice for Children Act, urge removal of ‘poison pill’ language

State capitol in Dover, Delaware.

Delaware legalizes physician-assisted suicide

Tony McFall wears his father’s cowboy hat while looking over the debris of the house of his father and step-mother, who lost their lives during the tornado in the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills on May 17, 2025, in London, Kentucky. A tornado struck communities in Somerset and London, Kentucky, leaving over 10 dead and more injured.

Catholic Charities aids Midwestern communities devastated by tornadoes

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Catholic health leaders object to House-passed Medicaid reforms in ‘big, beautiful bill’

Pope Leo XIV addresses members of the Pontifical Missions Societies on May 22, 2025, at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV thanks Pontifical Mission Societies for devotion to communion, universality

From the popemobile, Pope Leo XIV greets thousands of people lined up along Via della Conciliazione on the morning of his inaugural Mass, Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV appoints nun as secretary of Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life

Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson speaks as (left to right) House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Lisa McClain, Rep. Jason Smith, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Mark Green, House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, and House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer listen during a news briefing after a House Republican Conference meeting with President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Catholics praise defunding of Planned Parenthood in major congressional budget bill

Pope Leo XIV prays in front of the famous icon at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Our Lady of Good Counsel: All about this devotion and Pope Leo XIV’s connection to it

Liturgical Calendar Show this year
May 22
St. Rita of Cascia
Today's readings

TRENDING