Missing priest makes contact with family, plans to return home

Criterion staff report

After a week in which his whereabouts were unknown, Father Christiaan Kappes, an archdiocesan priest pursuing graduate studies in Greece, contacted his family on Oct. 8 to let them know he is alive and well in Germany, and hopes to return to the United States within a few days.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which had been looking into his case, has also been in contact with the priest. As this newspaper went to press, Father Kappes’ family did not know when he planned to return to the United States, but said that he was making plans to do so.

Father Stephen Giannini, archdiocesan vicar for clergy, said that the archdiocese is “elated” to learn that Father Kappes is safe.

“We thank everyone for their prayers and support for Father Kappes, and ask that people continue to pray for his safe return to Indiana,” Father Giannini said. “We also would like to thank Father Kappes’ family, the Vatican and all of the authorities who have been searching for Father Kappes.”

According to Father Kappes’ family, he called them on Oct. 1 and told them that he feared for his safety because of threats made against him by family members of Ioanna Lekakou, his translator in Greece. Her family was also allegedly threatening her in a dispute over an inheritance that she had received.

During an Oct. 4 press briefing, Victoria Nuland, U.S. State Department spokesperson, discussed Father Kappes’ case.

Nuland said that Father Kappes had visited the American embassy in Athens on Oct. 1, but left while an official there was making a phone call to members of his family in Indiana to help ensure his safety.

According to Father Kappes’ family, he left the embassy and did not seek safe haven there because of the embassy’s inability to offer the same protection to Lekakou, a Greek citizen.

While Father Kappes was missing, the embassy worked with Greek government officials to try to locate him, checking local hospitals, hotels and airports.

Father Kappes began graduate studies in Greece in 2009 after being chosen to participate in a program co-sponsored by the Vatican and the Greek government to foster better ecumenical relations between the Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.

Officials of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, who learned of Father Kappes’ disappearance from members of his family, subsequently informed staff members of the Vatican’s nunciature—its embassy—in Washington about the matter. †