Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argori, a Colombian nun kidnapped in Mali in 2017, was finally released and attended the opening of the Synod.
Newsroom (11/10/2021 10:31 AM, Gaudium Press) Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argori, religious and missionary of the Franciscan Community of Mary Immaculate, was released last Saturday evening after four years and eight months in captivity.
The Franciscan Community of Mary Immaculate was born in Switzerland and is present in 17 countries. The kidnapped nun, a Colombian national, was a missionary in Mali for six years.
The drama began on February 7th, 2017 near Koutiala, located 400 km from the Capital Bamako, when a jihadist group linked to Al-Qaeda carried out the kidnapping.
As their community sisters reported, the kidnappers wanted to take two younger sisters, but Sister Gloria Cecilia offered herself as a hostage in their place. Kidnappings in Mali are frequent.
Since her abduction, numerous international authorities had begun negotiations for her liberation. After her release, she met with Cardinal Jean Zerbo, Archbishop of Bamako, and the interim president of Mali, Col. Assimi Goita. She thanked all those who contributed to her liberation and asked God to bless them.
On Sunday the 10th, Sr Gloria Cecilia attended the official opening of the Synod of Synodality at the Vatican, where she greeted Pope Francis. (FM)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
