Philippines: kidnapped priest freed

Italian missionary Fr Giancarlo Bossi was released to police authorities late Thursday night in Lanao del Norte, local news services report. Fr Bossi was kidnapped on 10 June. Police Regional Director Jaime Caringal said: ."He is well, but he lost a lot of weight.'' Fr Bossi was rushed to Camp Kawa-kawa where he was given immediate medical attention. In Rome, Italian Premier Romano Prodi announced the release. He said: ``Father Giancarlo Bossi has been freed ... Today is his mother's birthday, so it was also a very lucky coincidence.'' Pope Benedict, who said last week that he was praying daily for Bossi, is overjoyed at the news according to Vatican spokesman Fr Frederico Lombardi.