Two Catholic priests kidnapped in Iraq were released in Mosul yesterday and went straight to church after a week in captivity, a Christian group said today.

Middle East Concern said, “The kidnappers released Father Pius Affas and Father Mazen Ishoa in central Mosul and they simply took a taxi to the church”.

But the Christian charity admitted that their joy was tempered by the news that two other Christians were taken hostage in Mosul on Sunday.

The priests were kidnapped on October 13 after they reportedly received anonymous threats warning them to stop working in the northern Iraqi city. Father Affas had worked as a priest in the area for forty years but Father Ishoa was only ordained last month. They were based at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in al-Faisaliya.

The Pope was among those who called for their release and the group initially agreed to free the pair after two days. But the kidnappers reneged on their promise and demanded a higher ransom of $1m.

The priests were released unharmed on Sunday morning after a week of negotiations led by Catholic Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, based in Syria.