Kidnapped nuns, two others released

PORT AU PRINCE (CMC):

The Archbishop of Haiti, Max Leroy Mésidor, says the nuns who were kidnapped last week, along with two other people have been released.

This was revealed late Wednesday in a statement from the archbishop.

Last Friday, armed gunmen hijacked a bus in Port-au-Prince and drove off, taking all of the passengers hostage, including six nuns belonging to the order of the Sisters of Saint Anne.

“The archdiocese of Port-au-Prince thanks the Lord for the liberation of the six religious sisters and the others who were kidnapped on January 19,” Mesidor said.

“This traumatising event has, once more, tested our faith, but it remains unbreakable.”

This latest high-profile kidnapping prompted religious leaders to issue a scathing letter criticising the government for its inaction toward Haiti’s surge in gang-related violence.

The statement did not say whether a ransom had been paid or give any detail on who might be responsible.

Meanwhile, the Vatican’s official news outlet hailed the announcement on Thursday.

“This marks a sigh of relief for the Haitian church,” it said.

On Sunday, Pope Francis called for the release of hostages and said he was praying for an end to the violence in the French-speaking CARICOM member state which the United Nations estimates has killed over 4,700 people in the past year.