(ANS - Rome) - On 24 December last a video was posted on YouTube in which Fr Tom Uzhunnalil appears, the Indian Salesian priest, missionary in Yemen, who was kidnapped on 4 March 2016 in Aden. From the images on the video the physical and mental state of health of the Salesian appear broken, nevertheless the video is primarily evidence that Fr Tom is alive.

The video is posted on a profile named "Saleh Salem" and lasts more than 5 minutes. On seeing it, Fr Tom's confreres, the Salesians of Bangalore, observe that the face and the voice are those of the kidnapped Salesian.

In the video Fr Tom speaks in slow and hesitant language. In his state of isolation he appears unaware of the many efforts that the government authorities, the whole Church and humanitarian organizations are making for his release.

A confrere of the Province has said: "In any case this video is a reminder to the authorities of the Government and the Church to intensify their efforts to negotiate the release of Father Tom. Prayer is really powerful. If Fr Tom is still alive we owe it to the prayers of countless people around the world. Please continue to pray for Fr Tom's welfare and security … and also for world peace, the end of religious, cultural or social persecution in any country and for greater justice, to reduce corruption and ensure a more humane distribution of resources among all human beings. We have to push our leaders, global, national and regional, to work seriously towards these goals."

The Salesian Congregation, renewed in the hope of being able to welcome back our Confrere Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, continues to support the efforts for a successful conclusion of the story and again invites the whole Salesian Family to pray to ask God for the release of our Indian missionary.