Club releases statement from captured journalist Austin Tice's parents

National Press Club President Emily Wilkins released the following statement Thursday:

“The family of Austin Tice have asked us to release the following statement about the anticipated meeting Friday between President Biden and Pope Francis at the G-7 meeting in Italy. The Press Club has supported the Tice family for many years in their efforts to bring Austin home and will continue to do so until he has returned.”

Statement by Debra and Marc Tice, parents of Austin Tice

“We are full of hope and joy that these two great world leaders who care so deeply about Austin Tice are coming together in Italy. We hope they will find a moment to join in saying a prayer for Austin. We encourage the global faithful to join them in this prayer for the safe return of our son. We respectfully ask Pope Francis to encourage President Biden to engage directly with the Syrian government as they have requested. We know these men together can bring Austin safely home. We are confident Austin is praying to walk free. May this sincere effort begin today with a prayer offered by these two capable men of faith.”

Background

Both Pope Francis and Biden have met privately with Debra Tice about Austin Tice’s case. The pope has written letters to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Austin’s behalf. Biden has authorized his national security team to have direct talks with the Syrian government: those talks have been sporadic and so far unproductive.

Tice is an award-winning journalist, Marine veteran and a graduate of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He has been held hostage longer than any other U.S. journalist. He has been held in Syria for almost 12 years, since Aug. 14, 2012.