In December, Maxime François-Marsal, head of section for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)’s French-speaking countries in Central Africa, travelled to Congo-Brazzaville, also known as the Republic of the Congo—a nation which borders Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this interview, he speaks about the situation of …
Category archives: Interview
“I am neither pro-Israel nor pro-Palestine. I am pro-human being.”
Benedictine Abbot in the Holy Land Six months after the terrible attacks by Hamas and the beginning of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Abbot Nikodemus pleas for the conflict to be seen from a humanitarian perspective, transcending religious and political boundaries. (Cover Photo: The roofs of the old city of Jerusalem.) As the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues …
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SAT-7: a lifeline of faith for Christians in Muslim-majority countries
The ecumenical Christian broadcaster runs several channels, in three different languages, and reaches millions of people with its satellite transmissions. Christians are a small minority in the Gulf Kingdom of Oman and almost all of them are foreign workers. So when Kurt Johansen, the executive director of Christian broadcaster SAT-7, told his hotel receptionist what …
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Haitian Archbishop: “Our people are a people who want to live”
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, the Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency after armed gangs stormed the national prison in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Haiti is sinking deeper and deeper into chaos. Pastoral life is seriously affected by the violence and the frequent kidnappings, but the faithful are braving the dangers to live their …
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A shepherd defending his sheep from danger
Central African Republic On February 23, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Father Aurelio Gazzera, a long-time friend and partner of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Bangassou, in the Central African Republic. The 61-year-old Italian Carmelite priest has already worked for 33 years as a missionary in the country, …
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ACN to focus on Middle East, Sahel, and Latin America in 2024
Regina Lynch, executive president of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), highlights the worrying increase in religious freedom violations around the world, but also the positive reaction to ACN campaigns such as Red Wednesday and One Million Children Praying the Rosary. You were nominated executive president in April 2023. What is your view for …
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Cardinal Nzapalainga: “As a Christian, I must hear and see things differently.”
During an interview at the international head office of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga from the Diocese of Bangui spoke about the attitude a Christian must have in the face of suffering as well as towards sisters and brothers in need. He also shared his experiences from the Synod on …
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Centrafrica – “Even if people have forgotten you, God has not forgotten you.”
Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga tours his war-torn country, Central African Republic (CAR), where some young people find it difficult to lay down their weapons and find their way back to school. On his travels to the ‘margins,’ which are particularly close to the heart of Pope Francis, the cardinal feels the pulse of an abandoned population. …
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Bethlehem’s heart-wrenching cry
“Without faith, I couldn’t continue, not even for a minute.” Bethlehem, West Bank/Königstein, Germany/Montreal, Canada – In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Rony Tabash, a member of a Christian family that has been in Bethlehem for generations, describes how the current conflict is directly impacting the Christian community in the …
Mongolia – Pope brings encouragement to all Catholics in Central Asia
The leader of the Catholic Church in Kyrgyzstan was in Mongolia, where Pope Francis spoke of how the littleness of the local churches is not a limitation, but a resource for the universal Church. Father Anthony Corcoran, a Jesuit priest, is the apostolic administrator for the few hundred Catholics who live in Kyrgyzstan. During a …
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