ZAMBOANGA CITY - Italian missionary Giancarlo Bossi, kidnapped more than a month ago, was released unharmed July 20 following negotiations with guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), officials announced .

Looking thin and weak, Bossi was abandoned on a lone stretch of the national highway in Karumatan, Lanao del Norte around 9 p.m. July 19, on his ailing mother’s birthday, according to Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, Western Mindanao police director.

Bossi, 57, abducted from his parish in the coastal town of Payao in Zamboanga Sibugay on June 10, said he was treated well during his 40 days in captivity. He said they also promised he would not be kidnapped again should he return to his parish in Zamboanga.

In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI welcomed the news of Bossi’s release with “great joy”said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi. Bossi’s release was revealed in Rome by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

Caringal stressed no ransom was paid for Bossi’s release, which came after negotiations with the kidnappers he identified as former senior members of the MILF. Caringal gave no further details but stressed the kidnappers were forced to give up Bossi after being constantly on the run to evade security forces. He said Bossi’s release was the result of negotiations involving former Tuburan Mayor Hajarum Jamiri and the kidnappers.

“Father Bossi is alive and well. Thank God (the) operations of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) went well for his safe return," Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said as he presented Bossi, still unshaven and looking disheveled in a blue sweat shirt. Bossi, for his part, confirmed the kidnappers were forced to give up after realizing the dire situation they were in. He said he was kidnapped simply because he was a priest and a foreigner.

Bossi, from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), narrated that there were 11 men who kidnapped him. They were later reduced to five after one of the kidnappers got sick and had to be transported to the lowlands for medical treatment.

Bossi identified three of his kidnappers as Abu Khalid, Abu Jari and Abu Biya, who introduced themselves as members of the Abu Sayyaf from Basilan. Bossi, who said he wanted to meet his parishioners in Payao before heading back to Italy, said his captors treated him ‘with respect." “I never had the sensation that they wanted to kill me, nor did I ever receive a death threat or violence of any kind," he said.

According to Bossi, his abductors were taking orders from an unnamed person by cell phone and were seeking P50 million to raise money for an unspecified rebel operation.

Hours after his release, Bossi was flown to Manila and proceeded to Malaca±ang where he was presented to President Arroyo July 20. Bossi said Mrs. Arroyo had congratulated him for his courage during his lengthy ordeal. He deplored the fact that 14 Marines were killed in Basilan trying to rescue him from his kidnappers. Fr. Bossi later visited his former parish in Zamboanga, said Mass and met with his parishioners who were very happy to see him.