They have been imprisoned in a pre-trial detention center in Berdiansk run by the Russian administration and stand accused of preparing a terrorist act.

"Western Sahara is an Apostolic Prefecture precisely because it does not meet the requirements to be considered a diocese. Which is also why we don’t have a bishop. I am a prefect. We are in a period of growth, shall we say, although it is a very slow growth."

“If believing in Jesus Christ presents a serious threat in many parts of the world, being a female Christian is even more difficult. In many countries where religious persecution is still rife, violence against women is often used as a weapon of discrimination,”

The archbishop recalls that he took part in #RedWeek events during his time as Nuncio to the Czech Republic, before being posted to Australia. “We began the observance with a common celebration involving the Catholics, Protestants and Jewish representatives in the historic Charles University.

Everything points to a kidnapping, since the missionary’s car was found abandoned and the cross, he always carried with him was on the ground. However, nothing is known about who took him, or why.

Imagine a country where overnight your savings vanished, and your salary was worth 20 times less than the day before. Imagine your parents worked hard to get you through university, but now can’t afford the tuition.