Israel’s municipal property tax, known as “Arnona,” has become the centre of a new standoff between the Churches and the municipality of Jerusalem. Christian leaders fear that challenging the exemptions enjoyed by certain ecclesiastical properties could compromise their religious, educational, and social activities. In a conversation with Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN), …
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Initially scheduled for March, the festival was postponed due to the conflicts which have affected the Middle East. The pope has encouraged more than 700 young people who lived through Iraq’s jihadist occupation to be the light of the world. In a video shown on Wednesday, July 8, at the Ankawa Youth Meeting (AYM), Pope …
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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 …
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Bishop Osório Citora Afonso was a friend and collaborator of ACN, and the charity has expressed its deep sorrow following news of his death. Two days after the murder of the bishop of Quelimane, in Mozambique, on June 6, reactions continue to pour in, though motives for the killing remain a mystery. The day of …
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The local Church hopes the visit will mark a “before and an after,” more than four decades after the last. Note: This text was written before Pope Leo’s visit, taking place there from April 21 to 23, the final stop of an African journey that also took him to Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola. The Church …
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Angola’s bishops hope the pope’s visit will inspire the country’s youth and help heal the past Pope Leo will visit Angola on April 18, as part of a trip to Africa which includes Algeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. Angola is a land of paradoxes; like many African nations, it is rich in natural resources, yet …
As the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to hear the Gospel prepares to receive a visit from Pope Leo XIV, the Church makes a renewed appeal for reconciliation in Angola. Pope Leo XIV will travel to Angola from April 18 to 21 as part of his apostolic journey to Africa, which also includes Algeria, Cameroon, …
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Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria yesterday, April 13, for a historic visit that shines a spotlight on the small but vibrant local Church and the role of dialogue between Christians and Muslims. Following his arrival in Algiers on Monday, the Holy Father visited Hippo Regius (present-day Annaba) on Tuesday, April 14, including sites linked …
The Vatican has officially confirmed that this coming April, Pope Leo will visit Algeria, making this the first-ever visit from a current pope. Leo XIV, who is an Augustinian by formation, will visit Algiers and Hippo Regius – the historical name of Annaba – following in the footsteps of St. Augustine. In this interview with …
“Cuba needs reforms, and these are increasingly urgent, but what it does not need is more anguish and pain. No more loss of life or mourning within Cuban families,” say the island’s bishops. During the recitation of the Angelus, on Sunday, February 1, Pope Leo said he has been following “the troubling news regarding an …
