Sister Gloria Released
Sr. Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti from Colombia had been held captive by Islamists in Mali for over four and a half years. It was announced on the 9 October 2021 that she has been released.
By ACN Staff
Sr. Gloria shortly after her release. (Credit: Presidence Mali)
On Saturday 9 October it was announced that Sr. Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti has been released from captivity. The Colombian religious sister had been held in captivity by Islamists in Mali since 7 February 2017. Sr. Gloria is a member of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate and had been on mission in that part of Africa for about 12 years before she was kidnapped. At the time of her kidnapping, Sr. Gloria had been helping to run a mission in Karangasso, Mali.
Sr. Gloria as a novice in the 1980s. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
After being released, Sr. Gloria met with the Malian interim president, Colonel Assimi Goïta, and also Cardinal Jean Zerbo, the Archbishop of Bamako. The exact details of how Sr. Gloria’s release was secured have not been released. She did however thank the state Mali for helping to secure her release. She also thanked all those who prayed for her release. On Sunday, Sr. Gloria met Pope Francis in Rome. The pope blessed her before he celebrated Holy Mass.
Monsignor Jonas Dembele, president of the Malian Bishops Conference, sent this message to ACN about Sr. Gloria’s release:
“This is a great day for the Church in Mali and for the universal Church, which has been praying for her. Despite the difficulties, God does not forsake his people, he blesses his people and the prayers of the Church helped sustain Sister Gloria. We are sure that she went through very difficult times, but nothing is impossible to God. We have organised thanksgiving masses in the parishes and the dioceses, to thank God and to pray for the people of Mali and for peace in our country.”
Sr. Carmel Isadel Valencia Cabrera, who had been a novice companion of Sr. Gloria, sent an audio message to ACN. In the audio message Sr. Carmel thanked ACN for the support and prayers offered during Sr. Gloria’s captivity. Sr. Gloria’s brother Édgar also contacted ACN and expressed his joy at his sister’s release and thanked ACN for the support offered. Bishop Mario Álvarez Gomez, head of the Colombian Bishops’ Committee for Missions, sent a video message to ACN in which he said the following:
“We thank God for this moment, and congratulate the congregation and the Universal Church, and we especially thank the Holy See, the Apostolic Nunciature in Colombia and the Bishops’ Conference. Glory to God for such a happy moment for the universal Church and for the Church in Colombia.”
Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern, the executive president of ACN International, also expressed his gratitude for Sr. Gloria’s release:
“At ACN we have always prayed especially hard for those who are unjustly detained. Sister Gloria was in the minds and hearts of our benefactors during all these years, but especially this past year, during Lent…Her release, after four years of patient and faithful endurance, encourages us to keep praying for all those who are still hoping for freedom.”
Thank you all who had joined us in prayer for Sr. Gloria’s release. Let us continue our prayers for the release of Christians held in captivity on account of their faith.