King Charles III attends Advent service in support of Iraqi Christians

On Tuesday, December 17, King Charles III was present for a special Advent service at a Church in Mayfair, London, co-hosted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception celebrated the courage and perseverance of Iraqi Christian communities and reflected on the 10th anniversary of the …

The Church wants to offer a joyful Christmas in Gaza and elsewhere in the Holy Land

More than one year after the war began, Pope Francis continues to phone the Catholic parish in Gaza every day and has become a grandfather figure to the children, says Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem continues to give as much support as it can to the small Christian community in Gaza, as …

Syria – Liturgical celebrations and reopening of schools

A new beginning amid hope and uncertainty As Syria marks the first week of the transition to the new regime, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has gathered firsthand testimonies, providing an on-the-ground look at the current situation in key regions, including Homs and Aleppo, where people are dealing with the uncertainties of a …

In Burkina Faso, catechists are the heroes of the Church

Catechists, often at the risk to their own lives, are pillars of the Church in Burkina Faso. Despite the continuous terrorist threats against them, they assure, in the absence of priests, the continuity of faith in villages and displacement camps. In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a priest from the …

“They assured us that everything would be fine and that we should not worry”

Bishop in Damascus, Monsignor Georges Assadourian The political situation in Syria, which has led to a drastic change in the country’s leadership, continues to deeply affect the lives of its citizens, particularly the Christian communities. Monsignor Georges Assadourian, the Armenian Catholic bishop of Damascus, shared with the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in …

A ray of hope for Christians in the Holy Land this Christmas

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa says that even though he does not believe there is a short-term solution to the crisis in the Holy Land, he does have hope for the future of Christians in the region. The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem believes that the end of the war in Gaza is in sight but warns that …

Haiti on the brink: bishops issue a “cry of alarm” for peace

In the face of rampant violence which is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and isolating Haiti from the rest of the world, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti, in a message received by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), calls on the government to act and appeals to every Haitian to work for peace and overcome hatred. …

ACN calls for prayers for Aleppo amid escalating violence and fear

Syria Following a heartfelt plea from a missionary and ACN’s project partner in Aleppo, the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls on all people of faith to unite in prayer for the safety and peace of this war-torn region. In a voice message shared with ACN, Father Hugo Alaniz IVE, an …

Albania – Two more priests beatified

Two Albanian martyrs, Fr. Luigi Paliq and Fr. Gjon Gazulli, have been declared Blessed by the Catholic Church, during a ceremony held on Saturday, November 16, in the city of Shkodër. “These two men were libelled and unjustly harassed, but their witness of forgiveness and love in the face of their persecutors made them examples …

Bangladesh: Radicalization driving discrimination and attacks against Christians

With Islamist groups gaining more political influence in Bangladesh, Church sources are increasingly concerned about the treatment of Christians and ongoing attacks on Catholic schools. Christians often struggle to find work, church construction projects are delayed, and the future of Catholic schools is under threat, according to a Church source who wished to remain anonymous …