The "good giant" of Mindanao, kidnapped last June 10, will continue his mission at the parish of Mary Queen of the Apostles in Paranaque, Manila. On March 31, he returned to the place of his kidnapping to participate in the inauguration of a new parish.

Manila (AsiaNews) - The "good giant" of Mindanao, Fr Giancarlo Bossi, will continue his mission in the Philippines, but not in Payao, the parish in which he was kidnapped last June 10.  His pastoral work awaits him at the parish of Mary Queen of the Apostles in Paranaque, Manila, where he has been since March.

The missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, aged 58, spent 39 days with his kidnappers, who took him by force in the area of Bulawan.  Once he was set free, he returned to Italy for a period of rest and medical care: he met the pope at the youth encounter in Loreto, where he gave a moving testimony before the thousands of young people.

When he returned to the Philippine archipelago, the police offered him a permanent escort, which he refused.  Last March 31, Fr Bossi returned to the place of his previous mission to participate in the inauguration of the new parish of Bayong, which he helped to build, dedicated to St Joseph "father and carpenter".

• Philippines
• missionary
• priest
• evangelization
• kidnapped
• Manila