Gunmen kidnap Iraqi archbishop

THE Iraqi Catholic archbishop of Mosul was kidnapped at gunpoint yesterday in what the Vatican called an “act of terrorism”.

Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, 66, was believed to be the highest-ranking Catholic prelate to be abducted in Iraq, where churches have been the target of a bombing campaign that has rattled the tiny Christian minority.

“We have received news of the kidnapping of the ... Archbishop of Mosul, Basile Georges Casmoussa,” said Chief Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

“The Holy See deplores this act of terrorism in the firmest manner and demands that the worthy pastor is swiftly freed unharmed to continue to carry out his ministry.”

Archbishop Casmoussa was kidnapped by gunmen in two cars in the northern al-Majmoua al-Thaqafiya district of Iraq’s third largest city soon after 5pm (2pm Irish time), a local Christian official said.

He said the archbishop was on his way to visit families from his flock when the attack took place, but it was not clear whether the motive was political, sectarian or financial, in a country where kidnapping for ransom is common.