Indian-origin Vatican priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was rescued from Yemen over a year after he was abducted by ISIS, will visit Delhi, Bengaluru and Kerala.
The rescued priest's family said that he will reach Delhi on September 28, will be visiting Bengaluru on September 29 and Kerala on October 1. Father Tom Uzhunnalil had thanked the Government of India for facilitating his rescue from Yemen over a year after he was abducted by ISIS, ANI reported.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to Father Tom Uzhunnalil and said, "He profusely thanked the Government of India, especially the Prime Minister for efforts to rescue him."
"He has also conveyed his thanks to the people of India for their concern and prayers for his release. He also conveyed his thanks to the governments and people who helped in his rescue mission," she said in a series of tweets, adding that India thanks Oman and Yemen for rescuing him.
Swaraj also confirmed that Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted by Islamic militants in Yemen last year, had reached the Vatican.
Father Uzhunnalil was rescued on September 12.
He was reportedly kidnapped on March 4, 2016 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) in Yemen, when they attacked a retirement home in Aden run by the Missionaries of Charity, killing 16 people, including four nuns.