Geeta Mohan | Posted by Bijin Jose | Sonalee Borgohain
New Delhi, September 28, 2017 | UPDATED 11:59 IST
Father Tom Uzhannalil also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to personally thank them.
Father Tom speaking to media persons in Delhi
Sushma Swaraj.Father Tom Uzhannalil, who was held captive by ISIS for over a year, has finally reached India today. The Catholic priest from Kerala, was allegedly abducted from Yemen by ISIS on March 4, 2016.
"Very happy, thank almighty for making this day possible. All people who have worked in their own ways, I am grateful," said Father Tom after he landed in Delhi today.
Catholic priest Father Tom arrived in Delhi at 7.40 am today by Air India flight from Rome.
An employee of the Vatican, Father Tom was abducted by terrorists in Aden on March 4, 2016. After much negotiations and with the help of the Oman government and the Vatican's intervention , the Indian government finally managed to rescue him from his captors.
Union Minister of State for Tourism Alphonse Kannamthanam, KC Venugopal, MP; Jose K Mani, MP; Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara and some family members received the priest at the ceremonial lounge of Indira Gandhi International Airport upon his arrival where a frail Father Tom looked happy to be back and said, "I am happy on coming back to my country and am thankful to the government of India and God. Bless the whole world."
Alphonso, who received Uzhunnallil, said, "We are most happy that you are back. We thank the PM and the external affairs minister for taking this great effort . We also thank the rulers of Sudan and Oman and the Vatican for the great efforts they have taken."
Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj to personally thank them for the efforts made by the administration.Delhi: Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was rescued from ISIS captivity meets PM Modi pic.twitter.com/aKleRHsn9H
- ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2017
He has been taken to Don Bosco Bhavan in Okhla. He is later slated to visit the Vatican Embassy in New Delhi where he will meet Archbishop Giambastitha Diquatro.
Father Tom will also address the media around 4.30 pm at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) centre. There will be a Holy mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral church near CBCI at 6.30 pm, which will be officiated by Father Tom.
Father Tom will visit Bangalore on Friday where he will meet CBCI leaders at Bangalore's St John's medical college.
On October 1, the priest will reach Kochi and go to Palai and Ramapuram the same day evening. He will meet Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other state leaders on October 3.
Even as he prepares to meet the Indian leadership, there are plans back in his hometown to welcome Father Tom with much pomp.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has praised Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for assisting in the release of Father Tom.