Niamey, 09 October, 2020 / 11:14 pm (ACI Africa).
News reports of the release of Fr. Pier Luigi Maccalli who was abducted just over two years ago in Niger have brought joy and gratitude to members of the Clergy in Africa and beyond who have interpreted the event as an answer to concerted supplications.
A member of the Society of African Missions (SMA), Italian-born Fr. Luigi Maccalli was kidnapped by unknown people in his Church the night of 17 September 2018 in Bomoanga, near the border between Niger and Burkina Faso.
On Thursday, October 8, Mali's government announced the release of Fr. Luigi alongside three others, including Malian politician Soumaïla Cissé, a French social worker, Sophie Petronin, and an Italian citizen, Nicola Chiacchio.
Announcing Fr. Luigi Maccalli’s release in a statement obtained by ACI Africa, SMA Superior General, Fr. Antonio Porcellato says, “The joy of the whole SMA family is great and our gratitude to the Lord is even greater.”
“The Maccalli family, with Fr. Walter Maccalli, our confrere and brother of Fr. Luigi, and all those who were concerned, prayed and contributed in one way or the other for the liberation of Fr. Luigi,” the Rome-based Cleric further says.