“I cried tears of despair,” says priest who was captured in Niger

In brief

Father Pier Luigi Maccalli shared details of his experience being kidnapped by armed men while serving as a missionary in Boamanga, Niger. In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, he described feeling despair during his captivity.

The kidnapping occurred on September 17, 2018, when armed men captured him and transported him across the border. Maccalli said he used the time in captivity to pray for his enemies and practice forgiveness following the example of Jesus.