A Catholic priest in Colombia has been mysteriously released after an alleged kidnap.

Fr Carlos Saúl Jaimes Guerrero was travelling to an appointment in Viotá Municipality, Cundinamarca Department on 17th June 2025, when an armed group allegedly kidnapped him.

The reasons for his kidnap and release are still unknown, with no group claiming responsibility.

He has now been returned safely to the Order of Saint Augustine. The group say they are thankful for his release – but that it should never have happened.

Other Christian leaders have faced deadly persecution in the country; in April a mass grave was discovered, containing the bodies of eight church leaders who had gone missing.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Director of Advocacy, Anna Lee Stangl said: “CSW welcomes the release of Fr Carlos Saúl Jaimes, though we remain concerned that he was disappeared in the first place. We call on the government of Colombia to recognise the specific vulnerability of religious leaders by ensuring their access to government protection programs and security mechanisms.”