Kidnappings

The Latest

An aerial view of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Sept. 16, 2008.

Three kidnapped Catholics released in Haiti

Apr 23, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Seven other Catholics remain captive more than 10 days after their abduction Read more

Bishop Moses Chikwe / Courtesy photo

Southern California Catholics pray for kidnapped Nigerian Bishop with strong ties to the area

Dec 30, 2020

Priests and parishioners in Southern California are praying for the safe return of Bishop Moses Chikwe, the auxiliary bishop of... Read more

Bishop Moses Chikwe, auxiliary bishop of Nigeria’s Archdiocese of Owerri. Public Domain.

Catholic archbishop urges renewed prayers for kidnapped bishop amid ‘misleading’ reports

Dec 30, 2020

A Catholic archbishop called Tuesday for renewed prayers for a kidnapped bishop following “misleading” reports about the bishop’s fate.  Read more

Cardinal Christian Tumi, pictured after his liberation on Nov. 6, 2020.

Video shows 90-year-old cardinal telling kidnappers: ‘I will preach what is the truth’

Nov 12, 2020

By Courtney Mares

When 90-year-old Cardinal Christian Tumi was interrogated in captivity by armed separatists in Cameroon last week, he calmly told his... Read more

Cardinal Christian Tumi, pictured after his liberation on Nov. 6, 2020.

Cardinal is freed after kidnapping by gunmen in Cameroon

Nov 6, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Christian Tumi, who was kidnapped by gunmen Thursday evening in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, has been freed.  Read more

Fr. Pierluigi Maccalli pictured before he was kidnapped.

Catholic priest freed two years after kidnapping by jihadist group

Oct 9, 2020

An Italian Catholic priest was freed Thursday two years after he was kidnapped by a jihadist group.  Read more

A young girl lights a candle at a Marian Grotto in Pakistan.

Pakistani archbishop warns of surge in Christian girls kidnapped, forced into marriages

Sep 27, 2019

By CNA Staff

A Catholic bishop in Pakistan has warned of an increase in young Christian and Hindu girls being kidnapped, then forced... Read more

Religious sisters in Cameroon released one day after kidnapping

Nov 16, 2018

Three Franciscan sisters and 13 novices travelling from Bamenda to Shisong in Northwest Cameroon have been released, after they were... Read more

Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil.

Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil: 'I have witnessed the power of prayer'

Nov 6, 2018

Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, the priest who was kidnapped in 2016 and held captive for 18 months by terrorists in Yemen,... Read more

No sign of Italian priest kidnapped in Niger

Sep 21, 2018

There has been no sign of an Italian missionary priest kidnapped in Niger Monday night, a member of his community... Read more

Family of kidnapped school girls in Nigeria.

Boko Haram frees most schoolgirls abducted last month

Mar 21, 2018

On Wednesday, terrorist group Boko Haram returned at least 76 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped in a raid last month.  Read more

Nigerian school girls.

Nigerian Christian community mourns Boko Haram kidnapping

Feb 28, 2018

By Courtney Mares

With 110 girls still missing after terrorist group Boko Haram attacked a technical college in Nigeria last week, a priest... Read more

Rebecca Bitrus.

Former Boko Haram captive shares harrowing tale of faith, forgiveness

Feb 26, 2018

By Elise Harris

Rebecca Bitrus, who was a prisoner with Boko Haram for two years, is a stark reminder that behind all the... Read more