Father Tom prayed to God to show mercy to his attackers in Yemen

Rome: Father Tom Uzhunnalil’s first thought on being captured by armed gunmen in Yemen was not about his own safety.
Instead, he prayed to God to show mercy to his attackers, who’d stormed an old people’s home in Aden run by the Vatican and the Missionaries of Charity.
Read here: Indian priest thanks His Majesty after rescue from Yemen
Uzhunnalil was released from captivity last week after the Omani government stepped in to help, responding to a plea from the Vatican. An Omani Royal Air Force plane brought him to Muscat, before he left the country for Rome.
Speaking about his ordeal and events on the day he was kidnapped by the armed gang, Uzhunnalil said he was not afraid of death, and had no idea why his abductors did not kill him.
Also read: Rescued Indian priest's family 'happy that he is free'
At about 8:40am on March 4 last year, gunmen stormed the home, killing 16 people, including four nuns. Uzhunnalil watched as two nuns were dragged in front of him and shot dead.
“I was experiencing great distress. I prayed to God to be merciful to the sisters and others who were killed and to forgive the killers,” recalled Uzhunnalil. “I prayed to the Lord to give me the grace and strength to accept his will.”
Read more: Pope Francis thanks Oman, welcomes Father Tom home
“I only prayed to God to forgive the sisters and the persecutors and have mercy on them. I did not cry, nor did I have any fear of death.”
Uzhunnalil spent almost 18 months in captivity, before his captors agreed to the requests of the Catholic Church, and the Sultanate of Oman, to release him.
The Omani government had released a statement after Uzhunnalil’s plane landed safely in Muscat. “In response to the Royal Orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and as per a request from the Vatican to assist in the rescue of a Vatican employee, the authorities concerned in Oman, in coordination with the Yemeni authorities, have managed to find a Vatican government employee.”
Upon Uzhunnalil’s release, the Vatican released a statement thanking His Majesty the Sultan.
“The Holy See fervently thanks all those who worked for his release, and especially His Majesty and the competent authorities of the Sultanate,” the Vatican’s statement said. Speaking about the day armed men entered the home in Yemen, Uzhunnalil said: “After the blessing in the morning for the five sisters, I had breakfast; then I spent some more time in the chapel for personal prayer.”
“Around 8.40am, I’d just come out of the sisters’ house, when I heard a gunshot almost immediately, and one of the attackers held my hand, but I told him I was an Indian.”
“He made me sit in a chair near the security room, near the main gate of the campus of the institution. The leader of the attackers brought out two sisters first, and went back again and brought another two sisters to near the main gate.”
“He went and looked for the fifth sister, but could not trace her on the campus.
“Then he returned back to the place near the main gate, where the sisters were being held.”
“Then he took two sisters first, moved them to some distance out of my sight and shot them, then he came back and took the other two in my vicinity and shot them.”
“Then he took me and put me in the boot of the car, which they parked near the campus, and closed the door of the boot of the car,” Uzhunnalil said.
“He entered the sister’s chapel, brought the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament in it and threw it in the boot of the car. They drove away with me in it.”
That sacred relic would continue to be a source of great comfort to Uzhunnalil throughout his ordeal, which saw his health deteriorate. In an impassioned video appeal made to the world last May, Uzhunnalil implored the international community to work towards his release.
“When I was in Aden, I used to weigh 82 kilograms (kg) and after my release, when I checked my weight, I was 55 kg. Now, with the food and medicines that I am taking for the last two days, I am improving,” Uzhunnalil added.
He also spoke about the day he was released. “Those who kept me came to where I slept and said, ‘I bring you good news. We are sending you home. If you need to go to the bathroom, go. Take a shower, but quickly.”
“Why they did not kill me, why they didn’t tie my hands, I don’t know,” he added. Soon after his arrival in Muscat, Uzhunnalil was flown to Rome, where he had a heartfelt meeting with Pope Francis and the senior Vatican clergy.
“My meeting with Pope Francis was a big grace bestowed on me because of my captivity,” he recalled. “I wept profusely before him, sharing with him my experience. He was so sympathetic, compassionate and concerned and he kissed my hand twice.”
Uzhunnalil now plans to travel to India, to meet family and his supporters.
“I would definitely love to get back to India and thank all the people and meet all my people, but I shall wait until the doctors certify that I am fit to travel.”
“It may take some more time, and I am ready to wait.”