Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada is launching an emergency campaign for Cuba, where the population is facing an extremely difficult situation. Montreal, February 18, 2026 – Due to the fuel blockade and sanctions against the country, the socio-economic situation, which was already precarious, has become simply unsustainable in Cuba. “According to our …
Category archives: Americas
Pope Leo XIV echoes Cuban bishops’ warning that fuel blockade could cause “chaos and social violence”
“Cuba needs reforms, and these are increasingly urgent, but what it does not need is more anguish and pain. No more loss of life or mourning within Cuban families,” say the island’s bishops. During the recitation of the Angelus, on Sunday, February 1, Pope Leo said he has been following “the troubling news regarding an …
ACN expresses solidarity with Cuba after the devastating passage of the hurricane
The organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses its deep sorrow and closeness to the Cuban people following the passage of the powerful hurricane that has struck the eastern region of the country, leaving behind a catastrophe of enormous proportions. Although the material damage has been immense in both cities and rural areas, …
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Mexico: A bullet-dodging bishop
In Guerrero, one of the most violent states in Mexico, faith is the last refuge for a population living under the weight of organized crime. Bishop José de Jesús González of the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa carries out his pastoral mission with a commitment that has put him, quite literally, in the line of fire. Bishop …
Guatemala: A faith built in community
In the heart of southeastern Guatemala, the small village of Villa Graciela bears witness to the humility and perseverance of the Church. Thanks to the silent commitment of laypeople such as Mirna Sucely Ramírez and José Flavio Silvestre, pastoral life flourishes within the community which has been struggling to rebuild not only the physical structure …
ACN Project of the Week – Belize
A convent for the St. Vincent Sisters Belize is a small country in Central America with a population of around 400,000. Since it is a former British colony, English is spoken here, though many of its inhabitants are migrants from other Central American countries. Agriculture is the main source of income in the country, and …
Peru – Pope Leo XIV’s dedication
Former fellow missionary recalls Pope Leo’s dedication to the poor and suffering Pope Leo XIV served in Peru during a difficult period, when the Augustinians were under threat from terrorists and the population was struggling. “He made sure the poor were treated with dignity,” says Fr. Lydon. Pope Leo XIV is “going to hear the …
Testimony – “I was the pope’s altar server in Chiclayo. Now I promote ACN in Peru”
“I was the pope’s altar server in Chiclayo. Now I promote ACN in Peru”Hello, my name is Santiago, and a few years ago I was an altar server in the parish of Saint Martin of Porres, Chiclayo, and I had the blessing of personally meeting the man who is now Pope Leo XIV. (On the …
ACN helps rebuild Church burned down during street protests
The Church of the Assumption was looted in 2019 and set ablaze in 2020. Some stories do have happy endings. On November 8, 2019, during a wave of street protests, several hooded people looted the 143-year-old Church of the Assumption, one of the oldest in Santiago de Chile. The looters made off with artwork and …
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ACN Success Story – Colombia
Two motors to support pastoral work in Guapi The Apostolic Vicariate of Guapi lies in the far south-west of Colombia, near the Pacific Ocean. The population here is mainly a mixture of Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Peoples. There is extreme poverty and widespread violence, and ever since the 1980s, illegal drug growing and trafficking have flourished, …