Fr Paul Pace was shocked like many others by the brutal murder of American photojournalist James Foley at the hands of Islamic extremists.

But for the Jesuit priest the tragic story also brought back memories of Mr Foley’s “touching words” of gratitude in an e-mail sent three years ago when he was detained in Libya.

It was 2011 and Libya was up in flames as revolutionaries fought to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Mr Foley was there to cover events on the ground when he was detained with three other journalists near Brega by Libyan forces loyal to Gaddafi.

We need to understand what drives people to extremism but we also have to take them seriously

Photojournalist Anton Hammerl was killed in the attack in which Mr Foley was captured.

Mr Foley was released from jail 44 days later and after getting out of Libya thanked the Jesuit community in Malta for raising awareness about his captivity and offering prayers for his safe return.

He also singled out Fr Pace, who was the Maltese Jesuit’s provincial at the time.

In his e-mail, Mr Foley wrote: “The faith of so many kept my spirits alive and the series of miracles that led to my actual release cannot be described as anything but.”

Fr Pace said Mr Foley had attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, run by the Jesuits. He recalled that after Mr Foley’s capture in Libya, the university organised a prayer vigil for its former student and sent out word to other Jesuit institutions around the world to join in prayers.

“We had uploaded the information on our website and prayed for him and his e-mail of gratitude afterwards contained touching words,” Fr Pace said. Mr Foley was captured in Syria two years ago and was decapitated last week by extremists from Islamic State (IS), formerly known as Isis, that have controlled large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

The video of his brutal end was disseminated by IS, leading to widespread condemnation and shock.

“It makes a difference having known Foley through a simple gesture of gratitude even if I never spoke to him or met him,” Fr Pace said.

He added that the photojournalist was brave enough to return to conflict zones after his ordeal in Libya.

And if there is a lasting legacy from Mr Foley’s death it is the realisation that not everyone believes in the values of tolerance, respect and freedom of expression, according to Fr Pace.

“Feeling superior by simply striking them off as uncivilised will not help matters.

“We need to understand what drives people to extremism but we also have to take them seriously because if we don’t it will be to our peril,” Fr Pace said.

Reflecting on the conflict in Iraq, Fr Pace said the western world’s problem was often one of oversimplification.

Many thought that by removing Saddam Hussein and holding elections the problems were solved but deep-seated divisions between Sunnis and Shias were ignored, he added.

Foley’s message

I am writing to thank you for your active efforts to raise awareness during the time I was detained in Libya. My family and I are forever grateful for your assistance and those of Father Pace in Malta…

I hadn’t truly lived the values of seeing God in all people and things until my freedom was taken from me for 44 days… I was truly humbled and broken.

But the faith of so many kept my spirits alive and the series of miracles that led to my actual release cannot be described as anything but.

In thanks and God Bless,
James Foley

ksansone@timesofmalta.com