ACN President: More Martyrs Today Than in the First Centuries of Christianity

Publication Note: The following article was prepared in June. Dates and references reflect the time of writing. During the annual pilgrimage for persecuted Christians in Einsiedeln on May 31, 2026, the president of ACN International reflected on contemporary martyrdom, Christian unity, and the mission of the charity. Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of Aid to the …

World Cup: persecution and religious discrimination in 14 of the competing nations

As 48 countries battle for the World Cup, religious freedom remains an elusive goal for one in every three nations competing. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has brought together 48 nations for the largest tournament in the competition’s history. As …

Another War in the Holy Land

“We have never faced anything like this,” says a Christian. With yet another blow to regional stability, many Christians in the Holy Land believe it is time to leave. Yet the Church’s mission remains unchanged: to bring hope and dignity to people in their daily lives. The director of the Development Office of the Latin …

Amid a fragile respite, an urgent plea from Gaza before Christmas

The Catholic parish in Gaza prepares for Advent during an unstable ceasefire. From the heart of the devastated city, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli of the Holy Family parish describes a disastrous sanitary situation and a day-to-day existence marked by a scarcity of means for rebuilding. The parish priest calls on the international community to pray for …

Nigeria – How a bishop became a bridge between Christians and Muslims

When he converted to Christianity, at age 12, Gerald Musa’s father could scarcely have imagined that his son would become the first bishop of his influential Hausa ethnic group. (Cover photo : Bishop Gerald Mamman Musa of Katsina welcoming guests at the airport. On the right, Fr. Ikokwu Onwuchekwa.) Though mostly used nowadays to refer …

Central African Republic: Religious war can be avoided

The archbishop of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, recently visited the international headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Germany. In this interview, Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga recalls the decisive action taken by religious leaders to prevent the conflict in the country from turning into a religious war. Tell us a …