Pope Francis expresses great concern at growing attacks on religious freedom, following ACN report

The Holy Father thanked Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for its report which points to a decrease in religious freedom, and said he is praying for all those who are persecuted for their faith. Pope Francis was given a copy of the Religious Freedom in the World Report for 2023, published by the …

Aid to the Church in Need denounces new Islamist massacres

In Burkina Faso, Jihadists killed 26 people in a church, many of them Christians. (Cover Photo: in 2022, Jihadist attack in the Minor Seminary St. Kizito where this crucifix was vandalized.) Local sources (that we keep anonymous to preserve their safety) have told the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) of …

Chaldeans in Georgia: A living legacy

ACN is helping the Chaldean Catholics in Georgia, who have suffered much over the years on account of their Catholic faith. “Nobody talked about God at all,” says Ilona Bilianova as she remembers growing up in the USSR. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, and the daughter of an officer in the Soviet Army, Ilona spent much …

Burkina Faso – Over 150 killed in a terrorist attack

In Burkina Faso, over 150 were killed in one of the deadliest attacks in the history of the country. The Bishop of Kaya calls for a day of mourning and three days of prayer for the victims.  On August 24, the town of Barsalogho in Burkina Faso was the target of a terrorist attack which killed …

Ewelina Ochab urges: “The day can help to educate, but action is needed.”

Fifth anniversary of the International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. (Cover photo: The Night of the Witness 2022 in Canberra, Australia). 22 August 2024 marks the fifth anniversary of the International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, established by the United Nation (UN) General Assembly in …

Jaranwala one year later – no justice, no safety 

One year on from violence described as the worst outbreak of anti-Christian persecution in Pakistan, Church leaders say people are both terrified of more attacks and furious that felons have not been brought to justice. Leading clergy in the Diocese of Faisalabad reported that security services warned Christians in Jaranwala against holding outdoor events today …

Teaching under fire: the mission of the Catholic church in Gaza

Despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, marked by uncertainty and fear, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli is striving to bring a sense of normality through education. The parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City has made it a priority to ensure that children in the community continue to receive “remedial” schooling. Over 10 months …

ACN supports more than 1,600 summer camps worldwide

The many holiday camps hosted in various regions afflicted by war and conflict offer young people temporary relief from their suffering as well as the opportunity to engage in carefree activities while growing in faith. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)’s project partners report that attending one of these camps is the most eagerly …

Attacks on Christians are increasing in Israel

The Holy Land’s Christians have suffered a “disturbing rise” in attacks including spitting, physical harassment, damage to property and cemeteries, and disruption of services. (Cover photo: The cross over the Duomo, Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem.) The findings are part of a report by the Jerusalem-based Rossing Center, called Attacks on Christians in Israel and East …

Haiti: “We must overcome our fear and bestow hope”

Plagued for months by gangs that plunder, kidnap and terrorize the population, Haiti continues to fight every day for its survival. Amid this terrible situation, the Church in the country remains a beacon of hope, says Fr Baudelaire Martial, a Haitian priest from the Congregation of the Holy Cross (photo), who visited the international headquarters …