Red Wednesday 2026 in Canada: Join in solidarity today!

Press Release Montreal, June 18, 2026 – In exactly 5 months, on November 18, churches, monuments, schools, and buildings across Canada will be illuminated in red for Red Wednesday, a global initiative to raise awareness about religious persecution and freedom of religion. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada is pleased to announce that …

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 …

Anti-Christian attacks on an upward trend

The number of churches attacked or vandalized in Europe and the Americas continues to rise, but Christians are often unaware of the legal tools available to combat discrimination and persecution—or, even when they are aware, they rarely make use of them. (Banner: The historic parish church of La Asunción, located in downtown Santiago, Chile, was …

ACN’s global petition for religious freedom: Sign now!

Billions of people live in countries where religious freedom is not respected, according to the latest edition of the Religious Freedom in the World Report. Montreal, April 30, 2026 – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) continues to collect signatures for its international petition in defence of religious freedom and the full implementation of …

ACN raises religious freedom concerns at European Parliament’s “Human Dignity” event

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN – International) recently took part in the “Human Dignity” event, part of the yearly “European Prayer Breakfast,” which was held on Wednesday, December 3. The conference was held at the European Parliament and hosted by MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) Bert-Jan Ruissen (Netherlands, European Conservatives and Reformists …

Canada and religious freedom: numerous concerns

Montreal, October 22, 2025 — “The loss of freedom of religion, conscience, and conviction follows virtually the same curve as that of freedom of the press, once again this year.” Marie-Claude Lalonde, National Director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada for the past 25 years, is observing this trend with increasing clarity. …

Religious Freedom: A global victim of authoritarianism, extremism, and war

“Religious freedom is a human right, not a privilege.” Rome-Montreal, October 21, 2025 – The international pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) launched its biennial report “Religious Freedom in the World 2025” today, 21 October 21, 2025, offering a global overview of the state of this fundamental right. The study, covering the …

Save the date! Red Wednesday on November 19, 2025

Register your event today! Montreal, October 17, 2025 — Save the date! The 2025 edition of Red Wednesday in Canada will be held on Wednesday, November 19, under the theme “You are the voice of persecuted Christians.” Red Wednesday is an international initiative led by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that aims to …

Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed commitment to defend religious freedom and stand with persecuted Christians worldwide

The Holy Father receives Aid to the Church in Need in private audience This morning, October 10, 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International in a private audience at the Vatican, marking 25 years of the charity’s continued mission to defend the right to religious …

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will gather on October 21 at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome for the worldwide presentation of the latest edition of the Religious Freedom Report (RFR) 2025, prepared by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The program will include the participation of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican …