Father Tom finally arrives in his hometown, Kochi

Kochi (Kerala) [India], October 1 (ANI): Indian origin Vatican priest, Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was rescued from the ISIS captivity, finally arrived in his hometown, Kochi, on Sunday morning.

Upon his arrival, Father Tom thanked the Almighty and expressed his happiness.

"How can one feel upon reaching home? I am happy. And thankful to the Almighty. God bless all," he said.

Father Tom arrived in Bengaluru on September 29.

"I thank the Almighty. I thank everybody," Father Tom told the media.

Earlier, Father Tom, upon his return to New Delhi, informed that his captors did not harm him physically.

While addressing a press conference in the national capital, Father Tom had said, "God has a mission for all of us and my mission is to be present for the old and the dying. I have prayed for those who kept me (captive). They gave me food and didn't harm me physically. Initially they asked who'll help me out from this situation - the government or Church? After some time they stopped asking me."

Father Tom also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Father Uzhunnalil was rescued on September 12.

He was reportedly kidnapped on March 4, 2016 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) in Yemen, when they attacked a retirement home in Aden run by the Missionaries of Charity, killing sixteen people, including four nuns. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI