The official statement from the Superior General of the Society of African Missions

Today on Oct 8, 2020, around 10 pm in Rome we received the news of the liberation of our confrere Fr. Luigi Maccalli who had been kidnapped in Niger on September 17, 2018. Fr. Luigi has been freed with the Malian politician Soumaila  Cisse, Mrs. Sophie Petromin a french social worker, and another Italian named Nicola Chiacchio.

The joy of the whole SMA family is great and our gratitude to the Lord is even greater.  We rejoice with 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 especially the entire dioceses of Crema, and Niamey with their Bishops at the head.

We thank in a very special way the Italian foreign office and the crisis management Unit that supported the family during the last two years and worked discretely and efficiently for the liberation. 

We continue to pray for the other hostages who are still in the hands of the kidnappers. We pray for the numerous victims of this blind violence that is hitting hard the Sahel especially those who were attacked in Burkina Faso recently. 

May God bless and guide all those who work for peace, justice, and reconciliation.

Fr. Antonio Porcellato
Superior General of the Society of African Missions