Six abducted religious sisters released in Haiti after a week of captivity

The six sisters of the Congregation of Saint Anne who were kidnapped by armed men on 19 January in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, while they were travelling on a bus, have been released. The two laypeople who were with them were also released. The President of Haiti’s Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Max Leroy Mésidor, confirmed the news to Vatican Media. In a communiqué, the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince “thanks the Lord” for the return home of all those who were kidnapped.

Meanwhile, the Vice-President of Haiti’s Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Pierre-André Dumas of Anse-à-Veau-Miragoâne, also gave thanks for the release of the eight who had been abducted.

“This traumatic event”, the statement reads, “has once again put our faith to the test, but it remains unshakable”. It goes on to affirm that God always hears the cry of the poor and frees the unfortunate from every anguish. It calls for prayers that hardened hearts may be converted and Haiti may be freed from every evil. The Church, assures the Archdiocese, remains committed to working for justice and peace in the Caribbean country, which has been shattered by a bloody battle among criminal groups fighting for territory.

During the Sunday Angelus on 21 January, Pope Francis had made an impassioned appeal for the release of the abducted group, and had prayed for peace in the country, urgently calling for an end to the violence, which, he reminded the faithful, is causing “a great deal of suffering” to the people of Haiti.

On Wednesday, the Catholic Church in Haiti organised a day of prayer, meditation, and Eucharistic Adoration for the religious sisters and all the kidnapped people.