Religious Freedom Report 2023: persecution worsens and impunity reigns

Press Release – For Immediate Release Königstein-Montreal, Wednesday, June 21 – Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has released the latest edition of its Religious Freedom Report (RFR), which reveals that persecution has increased since January 2021, while impunity continues to reign for attackers, including oppressive governments. The RFR has been published …

Thank you for helping us!

On this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) says thank you! You are one of the 364,695 benefactors around the world who support the work of the Church everywhere, especially where the communities are poor and persecuted. Thank you for your support! Cover: young people from Lithuania …

Over 200 million dollars in donations for suffering Christians around the world

Montreal, Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) presents its 2022 annual accounts which reflect a year of record support. Ukraine was the largest individual recipient of help for projects in 2022, receiving almost 10% of the aid, while Africa was the region that received the most support. …

Project of the Week – Syria

A vehicle for a parish hit by the earthquake In February 2023, a powerful earthquake struck the region of Southern Turkey and Northern Syria. At least 50,000 people died, and a large number of buildings were destroyed. Among the areas most hard-hit was the city of Aleppo in Syria, already devastated by the civil war …

Mozambique: Church focused on promoting interreligious dialogue in terrorist-plagued north

The Catholic Church has been playing a discrete but important role around dialogue that could effectively end the plague of terrorist violence in northern Mozambique. Father Eduardo Roca, a project partner of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), founded the Interreligious Centre for Peace, in the Diocese of Pemba, in 2017—the same year terrorist …

ACN Success Story – Ethiopia

A chapel for a remote village The more than 500 Catholic faithful in the village of Dakaya in the Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo (in the south of Ethiopia) are rejoicing because they finally have their own chapel. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to contribute $20,562 so that their new chapel …

One million children praying the Rosary for world peace!

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Press Release – Save the Date! – Montreal, June 8, 2023 – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada is pleased to announce that the One Million Children Praying the Rosary event is back again this year and will take place on Wednesday, October 18. “Praying for peace in an …

Nigeria – Priest calls for the beatification of Pentecost Sunday attack victims

One year after the attack on St. Francis Xavier church in Ondo, Nigeria, none of the culprits have been brought to justice. Victims wear their scars as “badges of honour” and their faith is as strong as ever. A Nigerian priest has called for the beatification of around 40 Christians who were killed in an …

Brazil – Bishops moved to tears over help received from ACN benefactors

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was present at the latest bishops’ conference in Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world. The pontifical charity used the opportunity to spend time with the bishops of the poorest dioceses, but also to share stories of Christian suffering from other countries, namely Nigeria. The international charity …

Changes in the leadership of ACN International

Regina Lynch becomes new executive president As of June 14, 2023, international Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be led by Regina Lynch, the long-serving head of projects for the charity. She will take on the role of executive director for the next five years from her predecessor, Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern …