Press Release – For Immediate Release
Königstein-Montreal, November 12, 2025 – Over half a million people are expected to take part in ACN’s Red Week 2025 while more than 600 churches will be illuminated in red for faith, religious freedom, and in memory of persecuted Christians. In Canada, around 60 activities have already been announced in nearly 40 locations across the country.
From Vienna to Bogotá, Sydney to Paris, and passing through Montreal and Toronto, churches and landmarks across the globe will be bathed in red light this November as part of Red Week 2025, a global campaign organized by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to shine a light—literally—on the plight of persecuted Christians, raise awareness about religious persecution, and advocate for religious freedom.
In Canada, around 60 activities have already been announced in nearly 40 locations, from Alberta to Newfoundland and Labrador. “I am grateful that Christians in Canada are taking the time to show solidarity with their persecuted Christian sisters and brothers around the world by organizing so many activities,” says Marie-Claude Lalonde. The program includes Masses, rosaries, prayer vigils, Eucharistic adorations, and illuminations. “There is still time to register your activity on our homepage, https://acn-canada.org/rw/,” invites Ms. Lalonde.
Among the venues hosting activities are the cathedrals of Toronto, Pembroke, Montreal, Joliette, Edmonton, and Calgary. Some parishes will hold activities throughout Red Week. Finally, the dome of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal will be illuminated for the fourth consecutive year.
“This year, in addition to remembering persecuted Christians, participants can also reflect on the importance of religious freedom thanks to the new Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025, released on October 21. Links to the full report and the executive summary are available on our homepage, https://acn-canada.org/rfr/, as well as a five-minute video that provides an overview of the situation. It may be useful in any of the activities organized for Red Wednesday,” concludes Ms. Lalonde.
Red: churches worldwide stand with the persecuted
Elsewhere in the world, hundreds of churches and landmarks—635 this year—will once again be illuminated in red, the colour of martyrdom, to honour those who suffer for their faith.
In France, Red Week will be marked by a series of “Night of Witnesses” held in various cities, offering moments of prayer and testimony. For the first time, iconic Parisian landmarks such as the Luxor Obelisk on the Place de la Concorde and the Pont Neuf and Pont des Arts bridges will be illuminated in red, sending a powerful visual message in the heart of the French capital.
In Germany, around 200 churches have registered. Another 200 churches will be lit up in the Netherlands, extending Red Week’s visibility throughout the country. Portugal will light up key sites in Lisbon, Braga, Porto, and Viana do Castelo.
Among the world’s most iconic cathedrals are St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica and Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in Canada, the Sanctuary of Las Lajas in Colombia, the cathedrals of Regensburg and Worms in Germany, and a large number of cathedrals in Australia and New Zealand, including those in Perth, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Bendigo, and Palmerston North.
In London, St. George’s Cathedral will be one of the main buildings illuminated for #RedWednesday and will host the ACN (UK) national Mass on November 19, celebrated by Msgr. Nicholas Hudson.
From November 15 to 23, this year’s Red Week will see more than 100 events all over the world, many of them on 19 November, #RedWednesday, the official day of the international campaign promoted by Aid to the Church in Need. Other participating countries include Australia, Austria, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Mexico and Colombia, among others.
The initiative is expected to draw over 10,000 direct participants for prayers, public events, school gatherings, concerts, and marches, and bring together more than 500,000 participants through media outreach and online platforms.
Among those giving testimony during Red Week 2025 are individuals who have personally endured persecution, including two who were victims of terrorist kidnappings. Sister Gloria Narvaez, a Colombian religious sister who was held captive for nearly five years by Islamist extremists in Mali, will be in Mexico to speak about her ordeal, and Father Hans-Joachim Lohre, a German missionary abducted in Mali and later released, will speak in Switzerland. In Germany, seven major events will feature Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, of Nigeria, including a solemn Mass celebrated in Regensburg, illuminated in red.
Austria will host a peace march with Orthodox Christians and a parliamentary event attended by Minister Plakolm and Archbishop-elect Grünwidl, with the participation of over 200 parishes and possible illuminations of the Federal Chancellery.
Religious Persecution: A Global Reality
According to the latest estimates from ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025, 413 million Christians live in countries where religious freedom is severely violated — of these, approximately 220 million are directly exposed to persecution.
This persecution takes many forms and varies by region, but the figures offer a sobering view of the scale of the challenge. Christians are exposed to persecution or discrimination in 32 countries. In 68 countries, Christian property has been damaged or destroyed with a clear religious bias, with churches being the main targets in 62 of them. In 45 countries, Christians cannot publicly express their faith using religious symbols in public places. Discrimination in access to public office, education, and justice affects Christians in 32 countries. Religiously motivated physical or verbal attacks have been reported in 73 countries, and in 57 countries, Christians face physical violence or detention because of their faith. In 33 countries, Christians are forced to flee, becoming internally displaced or seeking refuge abroad due to religious persecution.
The colour red, symbolizing the blood of martyrs, will serve as a visual reminder of the suffering endured by millions for their faith. ACN invites all parishes, schools, and communities to join this international movement of solidarity by illuminating their churches in red, organizing moments of prayer, and sharing a message during Red Week 2025 on social media using the hashtags #RedWeek2025 and #RedWednesday2025.
Additional information: Video about the main findings of the report.
About Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)
Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Charity supporting more than 5,000 projects each year in over 140 countries. Its mission is to help Christians wherever they are persecuted, oppressed, or in pastoral need. The Canadian office of Aid to the Church in Need is part of a network of 24 national offices.
