Robaird O’Cearbhaill
Hong Kong correspondent
Fr Giovanni Scalese, the only priest in Afghanistan, so far, succeeded in escaping from the Taliban, bringing five nuns and 14 disabled children that they had been taking care of.
Scalese had promised in Kabul that he would not leave without the children: “I said it and I have done it,” he told the Italian newspaper, La Repubblica. Details of his escape from Kabul testimonial went to SIR, the Italian Bishops’ news agency.
“A few days ago we made an attempt but without success. Approaching the capital’s airport was very dangerous. To realize this, just look at the television images arriving from Kabul airport. One day we arrived just 50 meters from the entrance only to get stuck for more than an hour, before turning back because the situation was deteriorating.” Scalese added, “We only managed to cross the entrance the other evening. It was not easy to pass through so many people.”
How did Scalese get through the previous waiting days? “Only on the first day, between 15 and 16 August, when it was not known what could happen, did I feel a bit worried. But the next day, inside the embassy, I was calm.”
Outside the gates “there were the Taliban who could have hurt us if they wanted to harm us. But absolutely nothing happened.” Scalese was more concerned about the nuns who were not at the embassy
“I was more worried about the Sisters of Charity who had instead remained in their homes and were therefore more exposed and afraid.” On the other hand despite the insecurity, he assured himself that the Church and Italian institutions were always with him and his group. “As we waited to embark in Kabul, we never felt alone, both the Church – I was in constant contact with the Secretariat of State – and the Italian institutions, in fact, have been close to us. The Pope was interested in the affair and followed it.”
After seven years in Afghanistan how did he explain the latest scenario to SIR?
“It is difficult to explain what happened. No one expected such a sudden, sudden conclusion. We all hoped for a more negotiated ending…and that the Taliban negotiate a compromise…formation of a transitional unity government. Within a few days everything collapsed: government, army, police force. The Taliban hardly fought for power, if they found it in their hands…it avoided a huge bloodbath… but not a civil war.”
But what happens next in fragile Afghanistan? Scalese says the country faces the problem “of rebuilding a state that has dissolved. And with what forces can they do it? Those who are leaving the country have a good level of education, prepared. Their departure is an impoverishment for Afghanistan.” He called for “possible dialogue” with “a bit of realism. One cannot take uncompromising and principled positions.” (Photo Usus Antiquior @TraditioMX / Twitter)
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