Baghdad (AsiaNews) Fr Saad Hanna Sirop, the Chaldean Catholic priest freed Monday evening after 27 days in captivity, "was threatened and tortured", another Iraqi priest, a fellow student, told AsiaNews. "He is really tired and exhausted. He was threatened and tortured. He'll be able to talk about his painful and fearful experiences later."
Father Saad was preparing to leave for Rome when he was kidnapped. He was coming to receive his university diploma after he obtained his theology degree three years ago at the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
"He is free and now is doing well. This is the only thing that counts," said Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel II Delly. In expressing his joy for the "good news" the patriarch thanked "all those who worked to get Father Hanna released".
A vast campaign was organised to get the clergyman freed. In addition to appeals by Patriarch Delly himself and the Chaldean bishops, Pope Benedict XVI joined the chorus of voices demanding Father Hanna's release.
In a telegram to the Chaldean patriarch on August 20, the Pope made "a heartfelt appeal to the abductors to release the young priest at once so that he can return to the service of God, the Christian community and his countrymen."