Bossi back in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Italian Catholic priest Giancarlo Bossi has returned to this city almost a year after he was snatched in nearby Zamboanga Sibugay province by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

Spanish Catholic priest Angel Calvo confirmed the visit of Bossi with whom he talked on Tuesday upon his arrival from Manila.

“We talked upon his arrival, but I don’t have any idea of his plans,” he said.

Bossi arrived in Zamboanga City on Tuesday morning and stayed at the headquarters of the Pontipicho Instituto Misioni Esteri  (PIME) or Pontifical Institute of Foreign Mission, of which he is a member.

Calvo said he was not aware of any purpose of Bossi in coming to Zamboanga City.

Bossi arrived at the Zamboanga International Airport at around 6 a.m. aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

He went straight to the office of Archbishop of Zam­boanga Romulo Valles for a courtesy call. However, Valles was out for several appointments.

Bossi, who returned to the country last January, said he has yet to receive instructions on his new assignment from his superior, Fr. Gianbattista Sandalo, regional superior in Southeast Asia of PIME.

He was willing to return to his old parish in Payao, he added.

Bossi went back to his homeland where he stayed for five months. He said he reunited with his family and friends and met with Pope Benedict XVI and the Prime Minister of Italy.

Earlier, Fr. Gianni Sandalo, PIME superior in the Philippines, said Bossi could still conduct missions in the Philippines but did not mention if he would be reassigned in Payao.

“He will not be immediately deployed to his mission until after the superior as well as members of the (PIME) council will be able to come up with several assessments,” he said.

PIME has 21 missionaries in the Philippines today.

One of them, Fr. Luciano Benedetti, who was kidnapped in 1998, is now working with indigenous people in Western Visayas.

In the vicar apostolic of Jolo, priests and other religious are now under military protection, following the murder of Fr. Reynaldo Roda and the kidnapping of church personnel.

Jolo Apostolic Vicar Ange­lito Lampon asked the Catholic faithful to pray for their safety and from security threats.

Bossi was kidnapped by 10 gunmen after officiating Mass in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay on June 10 last year and was freed after 41 days in captivity.

Upon his release, Bossi initially said he wanted to go back to Payao. “My heart is in Payao,” he said.

But his superiors decided to assign him to another place in the Philippines. – Roel Pareño, Edu Punay