Syria: Milad means Christmas

How a little ray of hope brightened the darkness for a family in Damascus during Christmas Even the faces of the seven children look sad and serious. Somewhat tense, they sit next to their parents on the worn-out sofa. The living room is surrounded by bare, light brown walls from which the plaster is crumbling …

Gaza City: Two dead and seven injured in attacks on Church grounds

Two women were shot dead by snipers in the church grounds of the Catholic Holy Family parish in Gaza City, on December 16, according to a press release by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, sent to the international charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Seven other people were injured. On the same day, …

Middle East: When you can’t find joy, create it.

To celebrate this Christmas, ACN is providing 45,000 gifts to needy children in Syria and Lebanon. This year, 35,000 children in Syria and 10,000 in Lebanon will receive Christmas presents in the form of urgently needed clothing. Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is sending close to $700,000 to these two countries, …

Gaza parish damaged by attacks

As the war rages on, Aid to the Church in Need is saving lives in the Holy Land The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem has confirmed that shrapnel from Israeli army strikes on buildings near the Church of the Holy Family destroyed water tanks and solar panels on the roofs of parish structures this past weekend. …

Iraq – “Please God, no more war.”

People in Iraq are terrified that the war in the Holy Land will engulf the region, according to a leading archbishop, who is calling on governments around the world to work to bring peace. These were the words he shared on November 3 during a visit to Westminster Abbey, which John Pontifex of our UK …

Philippines – Deadly attack at Marawi university sparks commotion and fear among local Catholic minority

A bomb detonated on Sunday, December 3, during a Catholic Mass at Mindanao State University, in the city of Marawi, in southern Philippines. Local sources say that the explosion took the lives of at least four faithful, leaving over 40 injured. The attack was claimed by a group affiliated with the Islamic State (IS). A …

Mali – German priest freed after over a year in captivity

Fr Ha-Jo was aware of the risks to his safety by continuing to work in Mali, but persisted, driven by a desire to improve the situation for the country overall, and to remain with his small Christian community. A German priest who was kidnapped in Mali over a year ago has finally been freed. Hans-Joachim …

Middle East – “If we don’t keep Catholic schools going, the consequences will be serious for the whole country.”

Aid to the Church in Need approves 3.59 million dollars for schools in Lebanon and Syria. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has approved a new aid package for schools in Lebanon and Syria for the 2023-2024 school year. The 3.59-million-dollar package includes school grants for more than 16,000 predominantly Christian pupils from poor …

Burkina Faso – New chapter of suffering for Christians

Murder of two scouts and expulsion of Christians in the northwest of the country Terrorists have forced the Christian population of Débé in Burkina Faso to leave their village. Earlier, they shot dead two scouts in the village church who resisted their orders. This incident was reported by Bishop Prosper B. Ky during a visit …

The Bishop of Tripoli urges international community to end conflict between Israel and Palestine

Holy Land Königstein, Germany/Montreal, Canada – One month after the terrible terrorist attacks by Hamas that led to war in Gaza, the Maronite archbishop of Tripoli, Lebanon, Msgr. Youssef Soueif, calls on the international community to urgently intervene to put an end to the devastating conflict. During a recent visit to the international head office …