Alfano said Father Maurizio Pallù was doing well and will arrive in Italy on Thursday.

“I have spoken to Don Pallù. He is at our embassy in Abuja. His words were of joy, without resentment. Tomorrow he will return to Florence,” Alfano wrote on Twitter.

Fr Pallù told Vatican Radio that his faith helped him get through the terrifying experience.

“I had moments of fear but I have to say I felt very much the assistance of the saints, of the Virgin Mary, of Carmen Hernandez [founder of the Neocatecumenal Way],” he said.

The Florentine priest said a group took him hostage along with a Nigerian brother and a female Nigerian student in Benin city on Thursday, October 12.

According to Fr Pallù, they were held until 10:00 pm on Tuesday night.

“I’ve been kidnapped twice in a year but I’m convinced that God will destroy the work of the Devil,” he said.

Fr Pallù highlighted that both of his kidnappings took place around the feast of the Madonna of Fatima, October 13.

Florence Mayor Diego Nardella referred to Pallù’s release as “splendid news”, while former Florence mayor, ex-premier and Democratic Party (PD) leader, Matteo Renzi, echoed that sentiment, phoning Florence Archbishop Giuseppe Betori to send his best wishes.

Rome prosecutors are still conducting an investigation into the kidnapping.

Nigeria’s Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram were initially believed to be responsible for the crime, however, they have since been all but ruled out.

With ANSA