The Cry of Gaza’s Parish Priest Although the media attention has died down since the ceasefire, the Gaza Strip continues to sink into an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Gaza’s Catholic priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, described the “very serious” conditions marked by the daily suffering of …
Continue reading ““It is absolutely essential that the war stops””
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is committed to helping rebuild homes and lives of the Christian community in Syria. Violence in Aleppo, Syria’s second most important city, has subsided following the withdrawal of forces from the Kurdish-led coalition which were occupying two neighbourhoods in defiance of government forces.* Although neither of the parties …
Continue reading “As life returns to normal in Aleppo, trauma lingers and fear remains”
Civilians are once again the main victims as the Kurdish-led SDF and forces loyal to the government in Damascus try to take control of the country’s second most important city. The Church has opened the doors of its buildings to displaced families. Christians in Aleppo, Syria, are calling for prayers from the international community as …
Continue reading “Christians Call for Peace and Prayers as Violence Returns to Aleppo”
Lebanon is still recovering from years of conflict and economic turmoil. The Pope’s visit is a sign that the local Church is not forgotten and highlights the country’s unique role in the region. The Church in Lebanon hopes that Pope Leo’s presence will help secure justice for the victims of the 2020 Port explosion, which …
Continue reading “Pope is travelling to Lebanon to “heal wounds” and “work for peace””
With unemployment disproportionately affecting the Christian community, and as a gesture during the Jubilee of Hope, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) made the decision to cancel student debt in all its schools. Even though Christians are the smallest of the three major faith groups present in the Holy Land, after Jews and Muslims, the …
As indirect talks continue in Egypt between Israeli envoys and Hamas, a cautious hope for the beginning of peace is taking root in the Diocese of the Holy Land. The parish priest of Gaza’s only Catholic parish shared with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) the heavy toll of two years of war. “Two …
Continue reading “Gaza: A first step towards peace after 733 days of war”
Ten years of bringing hope and fostering coexistence in Iraq In 2014, Yohana Al-Zebbaree was a pre-teen boy from a Chaldean Catholic family living in the northern Iraqi city of Duhok when jihadists from the Islamic State (IS) overran Mosul and began expanding their control over large parts of northern Iraq. “I remember the night …
Continue reading “Catholic University in Erbil is celebrating ten years: Bravo!”
Harshly persecuted for her faith, Sofia ended up finding solace in God and the strength to forgive those who forced her from her country and nearly killed her several times. On August 6, 2014, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians had to leave everything behind and escape their homeland, as terrorists from the Islamic State …
Continue reading “The young girl who fled from Iraq and met the Pope”
“We feel that we are alone”: the priest echoes the pain of the Christian community after the Damascus attack last Sunday. Father Fadi Azar, Syrian priest, speaks about the situation of Christians “Christians in Syria are feeling a great pain. The Christian community throughout Syria is going through a moment of deep sadness: the loss …
Continue reading ““We have the right to go to church and pray in peace.””
Aid to the Church in Need expresses its deep sorrow following the deadly attack on Saint Elijah Church in Damascus on June 22, 2025. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is profoundly saddened and alarmed by the deadly attack that took place on Sunday evening during a service at the Greek Orthodox Church of …
