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New Dehli, India, May 19, 2016 / 01:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Fr. Tom Uznunnalil, the Indian Salesian priest kidnapped by extremists in March is alive and close to being released, according to Indian government officials.

AsiaNews reported Wednesday that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj of India has said that Fr. Tom is “safe and that the "last efforts (are being made to) ensure his release."

The Asian news source also reports that the priest is not in the hands of the Islamic State but rather other “anti-government forces” in Yemen territory, possibly Shiite Houthi rebels, who have been battling the government army for more than a year, though there has been no confirmation of the group’s involvement in the incident.

Fr. Uzhunnalil, an Indian national, was abducted March 4 when four gunmen attacked a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, Yemen, killing 16 people, including four Missionary of Charity sisters.

During Holy Week, unsubstantiated rumors spread on social media that Islamic State had captured Fr. Tom and were planning for his torture and crucifixion on Good Friday.

The rumors continued when Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna allegedly confirmed the crucifixion during Easter Vigil services, causing Austrian and Polish media sources to believe the crucifixion had taken place.

Afterwards, Bishop Paul Hinder of Southern Arabia (whose apostolic vicariate serves Catholics in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen) told CNA that Cardinal Schönborn’s statement was based on an incorrect statement from Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore. Cardinal Schonborn has since corrected the alleged statement.

While some Indian Catholic sources are reporting that the priest’s release is “imminent”, Bishop Hinder still urges caution. He told AsiaNews that there are “no new elements” in the release of Fr. Tom, and urged prudence in order to not further put Fr. Tom in danger.

On March 28, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) wrote a letter to Swaraj, urging the Indian government to take greater efforts in locating the priest and for further information to clarify his whereabouts and to quell the rumors of crucifixion.

The minister then met with the CBCI and announced that the rumors of crucifixion were “baseless”, that Fr. Tom was still alive and that the government was “adopting all possible means” for the quick and safe release of Fr. Tom.

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By Junno Arocho Esteves

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Human traffickers and unjust business owners who become wealthy by exploiting others for cheap labor commit a mortal sin, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass.

"Those who do this are true leeches and live off the bloodletting of people whom they have made to work as slaves," the pope said May 19 during the Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

The pope's homily centered on the day's first reading from the Letter of St. James (5:1-6) in which the apostle denounces those who have gained their wealth from "the wages you withheld from the workers."

Although wealth in and of itself isn't bad, the pope said the real problem comes when one's heart becomes attached to riches, particularly those who believe in the "theology of prosperity" that stems from the belief that God offers financial blessings to the just.

The attachment to wealth can instead become "chains that take away the freedom to follow Jesus," he said.

Pope Francis lamented that even today, there is a so-called "civilized" exploitation by those who "become fat in wealth" by forcing others to work in unjust conditions with no vacation, health insurance or dignified work hours.

The pope recalled a conversation he had with a young woman who worked 11 hours a day to earn 650 euro a month under the table, saying that such exploitation "today is true slavery."

Recalling the Gospel parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Pope Francis said the "civilized" exploitation of people is worse than the sin of the rich man who "was in his own world" and "did not notice that on the other side of the door of his house, there was someone who was hungry."

Knowing that one's actions are depriving others "is worse -- this is starving the people with their work for my own profit! (This is) living off the blood of people. And this is a mortal sin. It is a mortal sin. Converting from this sin requires a lot of penance, a lot of restitution," he said.

Pope Francis called on Christians to reflect on the tragedy of human trafficking and those who become wealthy by forcing others to work in undignified conditions.

In the day's Gospel reading, he noted, Jesus assures those who are generous "will surely not lose" their reward.

"May the Lord make us understand today that simplicity which Jesus tells us about in today's Gospel: A glass of water in the name of Christ is more important than all the wealth accumulated through the exploitation of people," the pope said.

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Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju.

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(Vatican Radio) More than 1000 young people in Scotland will soon receive the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award 2016 at an awards ceremony in Glasgow.

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The award encourages and promotes the ongoing faith journey of young people. Pupils in their final year of secondary school are able to enroll, and members of parish communities can nominate young people in areas where Catholic schools do not exist.

The participants are asked to use their faith learning as a starting point for further faith reflection, which should lead to actions that show their faith witness. They are supported in deciding how best to develop their God-given talents in a way that witnesses to God’s love.

While many of the participants in the past have been active members of their schools, parishes and dioceses before enrolling, many more have responded to God’s call to ‘love thy neighbor’ precisely because they have signed up for the scheme. Michael McGrath is the Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES). He spoke to Vatican Radio about the idea behind the award scheme. He explained that many of the materials provided by SCES use Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s encyclical, Deus caritas est, as a central point for learning and reflection. However, participants are required to explore aspects of Scripture and Church teaching as well.

The award scheme was launched in 2011, as part of a legacy of Pope Benedict XVI’s UK visit in September 2010. It intends to support and celebrate the faith witness of young people within their communities around Scotland.  In the five years since it was launched, 5000 young people have received the award. Mr McGrath spoke about what the future holds for many of these recipients.  Many participants have come to understand that “they can – and need to be – parts of the Church in an ongoing way.”

Promoted by the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES), which was established by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, the BXVI Caritas Award is available to secondary school pupils around the country.

Following the success of the award scheme, the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland also launched the Pope Francis Faith Award, which is open to all pupils in their final years of primary school. Participants are encouraged to learn more about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and to apply these gifts in their daily lives by showing “signs of love” in their homes, schools and parishes, as encouraged by Pope Francis. More than 2000 primary school children will receive the award this year.

The 2016 awards ceremony will take place in the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow on Monday 6th June.

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