Bossi to resume work in Mindanao

Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi will resume missionary work in Mindanao despite his 40-day ordeal in the hands of kidnappers in the Lanao provinces, an official of his foreign mission organization revealed yesterday.

Fr. Gianbattista Sandalo, regional superior in Southeast Asia of Pontipicho Instituto Misioni Esteri (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions), said that Bossi might not be reassigned to his old parish church in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, from where he was abducted by armed men last June 10.

Sandalo explained that the decision on where Bossi would be transferred lies in their superior general, Fr. Gianbattista Zanchi, who is set to arrive in Manila next week for a meeting with the congregation.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines reported that Bossi will join Zanchi on the trip back to Italy to reunite with his family and friends and also meet with Pope Benedict XVI and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

Bossi, a 57-year-old missionary from Milan, is set to address a gathering of Italian youths organized by the Italian Bishops’ Conference in Loreto town on Aug. 1 and 2.

He would also take “a couple of months” rest in his homeland before returning to the Philippines, added Sandalo. – Edu Punay