SW News: A Colombian missionary nun who was kidnapped by a jihadi outfit in the north African nation of Mali has been finally released after more than four years in captivity. The news of the release of Sr Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argori was confirmed by Italian authorities. Her fellow prisoners Fr Pierluigi Maccali and Nicola Chiacchio were freed last year. The authorities said the health condition of the nun is stable.

It was on January 7, 2017, that the nun was kidnapped by a jihadi group. Following the incident, there were intense efforts on the part of the Church to obtain her release. For several months, there was no news about her whereabouts. The world came to know that Sr Gloria, a religious of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate, is alive after the kidnappers released a video showing her with other hostages.

On October 8, French hostage Sophie Petronin and Fr Maccali were released from captivity. Soon after she reached France, Sophie appealed to President Emmanuel Macron to intervene and secure the release of the Colombian nun. Sophie told the press that she spent most of her captivity with Sr Gloria, adding that they were taken to 30 different camps and had to share blankets, food and water. She also said that although they were not subjected to violence, they bound the nun for three days after she got lost on a walk.

Believers in Colombia, and around the world joined in prayers for the release of the nun. The Archbishop of Bamako in Mali Cardinal Jean Zerbo had appealed for the release of the sister.