Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI's spokesman on Thursday renewed an appeal for the release of two Italian Roman Catholic nuns believed to have been abducted from Kenya by Somali Islamists earlier this month.

"More than a fortnight has passed since the two Italian nuns, Sister Maria Teresa Olivero and Sister Caterina Giraudo, were abducted in Kenya, where they are well-known for their generous dedication to the very poor," Father Federico Lombardi said in Vatican statement.

Benedict was following "the protraction of their kidnapping with concern," Lombardi said.

"The hope is that this painful and gravely unjust situation, of which entirely innocent and praiseworthy people are victims, may be resolved as soon as possible," he added.

Last week the Kenyan government issued a warning to the Islamist Al-Shabaab militia to release the nuns which were abducted in the northeastern Kenyan town of Elwak, in the Mandera district.

The militia. which is battling the Somalia's Ethiopian-backed transitional government, is believe to be holding the nuns in Somali territory. (dpa)