South Sudan: The bishop who brought his diocese back to life

When Bishop Stephen Nyodho was appointed for the Diocese of Malakal, everything had been destroyed. No buildings, no services, and no flock. With courage and leading by example, he began to rebuild—first trust, then infrastructure. The city of Malakal, in South Sudan, used to be home to tens of thousands of people before the civil …

ACN’s global petition for religious freedom: Sign now!

Billions of people live in countries where religious freedom is not respected, according to the latest edition of the Religious Freedom in the World Report. Montreal, April 30, 2026 – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) continues to collect signatures for its international petition in defence of religious freedom and the full implementation of …

105th Annual Toronto Diocesan CWL Convention – Warm Thank you!

Aid to the Church in Need Canada was honoured to participate in the 105th Annual Toronto Diocesan CWL Convention, held in Ajax on April 27–28, 2026, under the theme Ignite Your Passion, Empower His Mission. Our National Director, Marie‑Claude Lalonde, delivered a keynote address on Tuesday morning, presenting the work of ACN and offering an …

Holy Land increasingly emptied of Christians

“We dream of reaching even 5%, but we are far from that”. In an address to representatives of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Benedictine Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel offered a stark and personal account of the fragile and rapidly shrinking Christian presence in the Holy Land. The image of Jerusalem as a vibrant heart …

Equatorial Guinea’s spiritual preparation for historic papal visit

The local Church hopes the visit will mark a “before and an after,” more than four decades after the last. Note: This text was written before Pope Leo’s visit, taking place there from April 21 to 23, the final stop of an African journey that also took him to Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola. The Church …

Angola: “We cannot host the ‘Messenger of Peace’ with our hearts full of hate”

As the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to hear the Gospel prepares to receive a visit from Pope Leo XIV, the Church makes a renewed appeal for reconciliation in Angola. Pope Leo XIV will travel to Angola from April 18 to 21 as part of his apostolic journey to Africa, which also includes Algeria, Cameroon, …

Cameroon: A vibrant Church, but “conflict remains an open wound”

As Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit Cameroon on April 15 & 16, Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) interviewed Bishop Emmanuel Dassi of Bafia about the reality of the local Church in Cameroon, its social and political role, and the challenges facing the country – particularly in the Anglophone region, which …

Algeria: Visit of Pope Leo XIV bolsters mission of small, vibrant Church and dialogue with Islam

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria yesterday, April 13, for a historic visit that shines a spotlight on the small but vibrant local Church and the role of dialogue between Christians and Muslims. Following his arrival in Algiers on Monday, the Holy Father visited Hippo Regius (present-day Annaba) on Tuesday, April 14, including sites linked …

People feel “dehumanized” as Lebanon buckles under bombardment

Among the priorities are reopening schools and paying teachers’ salaries, as these play a crucial role in passing on Christian values in the region. People are feeling “scared, angry and sad” after more than 100 bombs fell across Beirut in a single night, shattering any remaining sense of safety for those still living in their …

Pakistan – Truck Plows Into Easter Procession

Pakistan’s Christian community is in shock following a serious incident that occurred at dawn on Easter Sunday, when a truck travelling at high speed plowed into a procession of more than 200 worshippers in the city of Gujranwala, injuring around 60 people, some of whom are in critical condition. Authorities have arrested the driver and …