Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, affirmed today that the Pope is “close in prayer” to those suffering from the Nov. 10 kidnapping of Sisters Caterina Giraudo and Maria Teresa Oliviero, 67 and 61, of the Italian Contemplative Missionary Movement Father de Foucauld.
“More than a fortnight has passed since the two Italian nuns […] were abducted in Kenya, where they are well known for their generous dedication to the very poor,” Father Lombardi’s message stated.
He said the Holy Father is following the situation with concern and remains “close in prayer to the suffering, not only of the two kidnapped nuns, but also to that of their families and of the Contemplative Missionary Movement of Father de Foucauld, of which they are members.”
“The hope,” the spokesman affirmed, “is that this painful and gravely unjust situation, of which entirely innocent and praiseworthy people are victims, may be resolved as soon as possible.”
The nuns were abducted in northeast Kenya, close to the Somalia border. Initial investigations were trying to determine if the kidnappers were local Kenyans or from across the border.
