The family of Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio, the Italian Jesuit priest kidnapped in Syria nearly two years ago, has thanked Pope Francis for offering them consolation in their moment of trial.  At this past Sunday's Angelus, Pope Francis appealed for the release of Fr.

Dall’Oglio and of two Orthodox bishops of Aleppo who were also kidnapped during the raging confict in Syria in 2013.  Francesca Dall’Oglio, sister of Paolo Dall’Oglio, said their family found hope in the Pope’s words and expressed their closeness to the families of other victims of the Syrian and other conflicts