Kidnapped Nuns and Laypeople Released in Haiti

Release follows international outcry and plea from Pope Francis amid escalating violence in the nation.

Six Catholic nuns and two laypeople kidnapped in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, have been released after nearly a week in captivity.
The release comes days after a plea by Pope Francis and a day of prayer and meditation organized by the Catholic Church in Haiti.
The kidnappers, who remain unidentified, had demanded a ransom of over $3 million, but it is unclear whether any ransom was paid.
The kidnapping has prompted criticism of the Haitian government for its lack of response to increasing gang-related violence.
The United Nations estimates that violence in Haiti has led to more than 4,700 killings and nearly 2,500 kidnappings in the past year.