Haiti – “painful and outrageous.”

Head of the Clerics of Saint Viator describes kidnapping of priest as “painful and outrageous.” Two priests were abducted in recent weeks in Haiti, a country in the midst of a deep crisis. While one of them managed to escape after several days in the hands of his kidnappers, the other was released on March …

Nigeria – Christian leader hoping new leaders will have “the common good of everybody at heart.”

Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, the president elected of Nigeria who will be asserted in May, comes from a region famous for interreligious harmony and is married to a practicing Christian. Christians hope he will be an improvement on President Buhari, who has been accused of being soft on radical Islam and Fulani violence. Nigerian Catholics …

Syria – “You journeyed with our suffering people until death”

A moving tribute to Father Imad Daher, who died in the 6 February earthquake in Aleppo, Syria, written by a childhood friend. Sister Jacky Abinassif is from Majd el Meouch, in Lebanon, and knew Father Imad Daher well. “He was a friend of my family – he was our neighbour – and a close friend …

Pope Francis, 10 years in solidarity with persecuted Christians

This past Wednesday, March 8, the Holy Father met with two young Nigerian Christians who were victims of jihadist persecution. (Cover photo: Pope Francis in Iraq, March 2021). On the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate, Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) highlights the Holy Father’s closeness to Christians who suffer persecution …

Nicaragua-Lent: Government forbids the Stations of the Cross and processions during Holy Week

Church in Nicaragua: “As long as we can get on our knees and raise our hands in prayer to God, we shall not be paralyzed by fear.” The government has forbidden the Stations of the Cross and Holy Week processions, but the faithful remain united around the Eucharist during this Lenten season. “This period of …

On March 8, Boko Haram victims to be greeted by Pope Francis

On March 8, Hear Her Cries* In honour of International Women’s Day, on March 8, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has invited two Nigerian Christians to visit Italy. Maryamu Joseph (16), and Janada Marcus (22) are recent victims of the savagery of Boko Haram terrorists, who have been responsible for the deaths of …

Pakistani Catholic escapes forced conversion to Islam

For years, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been highlighting the suffering of women and young girls subjected to abduction and forced conversion in countries around the world. Many cases go unknown, but shocking testimonies like the story of Kinza Sindhu (14) show the urgency of this issue. Kinza was raped and forcefully …

Lebanon – Middle East churches believe “Synod can be a new spring for the Church, like Vatican II.”

The Continental Synodal Assembly for the Middle East was held in February, with the support of Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Catholic delegates from different parts of the world have been taking part in continental assemblies as part of the Church’s Synod on Synodality. Each continent and country has its own …

Religious Freedom: Biden pressured to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern.”

The fate of Nigeria’s Christians tops agenda at International Religious Freedom Summit. A bi-partisan resolution calling the Biden Administration to task for failing to protect Nigeria’s Christians took the spotlight at the third annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C. from January 31 to February 1, only weeks before the presidential election in …

India – Supporting the formation of 25 young religious women

ACN Project of the Week The congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod was founded in France and has been established in India ever since 1886. Today, the religious sisters are present in the capital, New Delhi, and in 17 of the federal states of the country. They are dedicated to the service …