Pope Francis calls for releasing Aleppian bishops

          
Pope Francis urged on Wednesday the release of the two Aleppian bishops, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo and Alexandria Boulos Yaziji, and Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo Yuhanna Ibrahim, who were abducted in Syria.              

The two Syrian bishops kidnapped by gunmen on Monday are still missing, church sources in Damascus and Aleppo said on Wednesday, contradicting a report that the men had been freed.   

A source at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo said the bishops had not been released and he was unaware of any contact with their abductors.

At the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus, a source also said there was no indication they had been freed.

This as the United Press International said the bishops were transferred on Wednesday morning to a safe place in Aleppo's countryside.

Bishop Boulos Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church and John Ibrahim of the Assyrian Orthodox Church were abducted as they traveled from the Turkish border to the city of Aleppo on Monday.

Their driver was killed. It was not immediately clear who was responsible.

An association of Middle Eastern Christians said on Tuesday that the two Orthodox bishops  have been released.

In this context, Agence France Presse quoted sources as saying that the two bishops were already at Saint Elias cathedral in Aleppo.

Earlier, the Greek and Assyrian Orthodox Patriarchates of Antioch and All The East urged citizens to practice restraint in dealing with the kidnappings of Bishops Boulos Yazigi and John Ibrahim so as to "not serve the enemies of the country.

The patriarchates expressed their regret following the wave of violent attacks that erupted in the Middle East and called on the kidnappers to respect the lives of the two bishops and refrain from acts that lead to sectarian discord among citizens of the same country.

REUTERS