Pope Francis thanks Oman, welcomes Father Tom home

Pope Francis has thanked the government of Oman for the timely intervention in the rescue of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who spent 18 months in captivity in Yemen.

A Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft was scrambled to the port city of Aden, where Uzhunnalil had worked and was held, and he arrived in the Omani capital, Muscat, soon after his release on Tuesday, the 12th of September.

"The Holy See fervently thanks all those who worked for his release, and especially His Majesty the Sultan of Oman and the competent authorities of the Sultanate," read a statement from the Holy See's Press Office, after the news of the priest's release.

After personally meeting Pope Francis on arrival in Rome, Fr. Uzhunnalil is expected to stay in the Vatican City for a few days before going home to his family in India.

A native of the Indian state of Kerala, Fr. Uzhunnalil belonged to the Bangalore Salesian province, and had been working as a Vatican member at an old age care home set up in Aden by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity.

He had been abducted by gunmen who stormed the facility on the 4th of March, 2016, taking him hostage and killing 16 other residents of the home, including four sisters, who served the elderly at the home, where he served as chaplain. About 80 residents lived in the care home a the time of the attack.

Almost immediately after news of the attack and Fr. Uzhunnalil's abduction made news around the world, Pope Francis appealed for the release of the priest, mentioning his name during his Easter sermons on April 4th, 2016.

"I renew my appeal for the release of all persons seized in areas of armed conflict," he'd said at the time. "In particular, I desire to remember the Salesian priest, Tom Uzhunnalil, kidnapped at Aden in Yemen this past March 4th."

Father Uzhunnalil's release was met with gratitude and relief, not just by himself, but also by senior members in the religious and political circles.

"In response to the Royal Orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and as per a request from the Vatican to assist in the rescuing of a Vatican employee, the authorities concerned in Oman, in coordination with the Yemeni authorities, have managed to find a Vatican government employee," said Oman's government in a statement.

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