In solidarity with those who suffer in silence for their faith
During #RedWeek, from November 17 to 27, 2024, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) united people from all around the world to pray for persecuted Christians. Worldwide solidarity and prayer vigils, as well as the illumination of over 1,000 monuments, churches, and public buildings, demonstrated support for religious freedom and for those suffering due to violations of this fundamental human right.
“I would like to express all my gratitude to everyone across Canada who took part in the event. This demonstration of solidarity is invaluable, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” says Marie-Claude Lalonde, national director of ACN Canada. “I invite everyone to mark their calendars today for next year’s Red Wednesday, which will be held on November 19, 2025.”
Literally from coast to coast to coast, participants organized events or promoted Red Wednesday. An unprecedented number of activities took place, spanning from the Diocese of Victoria on the BC Coast to the Archdiocese of St. John’s off the Atlantic Coast to the Diocese of Whitehorse in the North. In Saskatchewan, an ecumenical vigil was held, while the country’s main cathedrals, notably in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, were lit up in red. More than 40 activities, including Masses and prayer vigils, took place across the country.
Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sagrada Familia Basilica
This year, more than 1,000 monuments, churches, and public buildings were lit in red— representing the blood of martyrs—to raise awareness about the decrease of the right to religious freedom around the world. Each illuminated monument tells a story of courage, faith, and resilience in the face of persecution, shining a light on the darkness faced by millions for their beliefs.
Among the most famous, the façade of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, was lit up in red for the first time, as was that of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, the iconic monument designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. Also in Spain, the Roman Amphitheatre of Tarragona (site of the first Christian martyrdoms in Spain) illuminated in red. Special screenings of the documentary Heroes of Faith were held in over 50 parishes, along with talks on the report Persecuted and Forgotten?, emphasizing the dire state of Christian persecution today.
The United Kingdom also marked Red Wednesday with notable political engagement. For example, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner responded to an appeal from MP Sir Edward Leigh, acknowledging the worsening crisis of religious persecution and pledging support for religious freedom. MP Leigh said: “Today is #RedWednesday, in which we remember all those persecuted for their belief worldwide. A recent report by Aid to the Church in Need shows that in the countries surveyed, the persecution of minorities has increased by 60 percent. In light of this, will the Government commit to reappointing the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, a post which has remained vacant since July?” Standing in for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Rayner replied: “We are committed to championing human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.” This highlights the continued international awareness of religious persecution and the need for systemic change, including at the political level.
Other countries that observed Red Week included Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Switzerland, demonstrating a global commitment to this cause.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)’s commitment to persecuted Christians and religious freedom
The Red Week initiative is part of ACN’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the forgotten plight of Christians facing persecution in many countries, like in the Sahel region of Africa or in India, where religious freedom continues to be under threat in the 21st century.
ACN’s Persecuted & Forgotten? report highlights the alarming rise in persecution or discrimination worldwide. Through prayer, public witness, and ongoing advocacy, ACN is committed to raising awareness, offering support to those suffering for their faith, and standing up for religious freedom.
