“I hope that, as soon as possible, we can return to a situation of normality — which means peace, stability, security — and that, therefore, foreign personnel can return to the country and can also live their faith without limitations,” said Father Giovanni Scalese, who has led the Afghan Catholic mission since 2014. “We do not care who is in government: it is enough that no obstacles are placed to religious freedom.”

Father Scalese’s mission was headquartered in the Italian embassy, which Italy abandoned as the Taliban conquered Kabul.