Catholic Church steps up pressure on Nigerian government over rising violence

In recent days, several Catholic organizations and dioceses have called on the government to deploy additional military and police personnel to stem the bloodshed and criminality gripping large parts of the country. The Catholic Church in northern Nigeria has intensified its public pressure on the government in recent days following a new wave of attacks …

Christians Call for Peace and Prayers as Violence Returns to Aleppo

Civilians are once again the main victims as the Kurdish-led SDF and forces loyal to the government in Damascus try to take control of the country’s second most important city. The Church has opened the doors of its buildings to displaced families. Christians in Aleppo, Syria, are calling for prayers from the international community as …

Burkina Faso: Two dioceses hit by new wave of attacks

The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses its deep concern and sadness over the renewed upsurge in terrorism in the Dioceses of Nouna and Fada N’Gourma, respectively in the northeast and southeast of Burkina Faso. Over the past few weeks, civilians and members of the Church have once again suffered …

Pakistan: Two years on, justice still not done

Two years after an atrocity described as the worst outbreak of violence against Christians in Pakistan’s 78-year history, the local bishop of the district has said that not one of the thousands of suspects has been brought to justice – and that he and his people are furious.   Bishop Indrias Rehmat said Christians in …

ACN Success Story – Ecuador

Strengthening prison ministry in Guayaquil Some time ago, we asked your support for the prison outreach ministry in the Archdiocese of Guayaquil in Ecuador, one of the countries in Latin America worst affected by the plague of violence. The level of this violence is particularly alarming in the port city Guayaquil, a city of almost …

Pakistan: Christian girls continue to suffer from abuse and discrimination

A report compiled by Franciscan priest Lazar Aslam describes the plight of young girls and women who are subjected to rape, kidnapping, and forced marriage in a country where the law rarely affords Christians equal rights. (Banner photo: Published in 2022, the report Hear Her Cries highlighted the violence committed against women from religious minorities, …

Burkina Faso – Church, God’s Family: 125 Years of Evangelization

Burkina Faso is celebrating 125 years of evangelization in a country currently marred by violence and terrorism. The African nation occupies first place on the Global Terrorism Index 2025 and suffers from severe security issues, constant attacks against civilian populations, and entire regions that can only be reached by helicopter. Despite this situation, the Church …

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) organizes Global Day of Prayer for Peace in Myanmar

Press release – For Immediate release Montreal-Königstein, January 23, 2025 – Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is calling for a Global Day of Prayer for peace in Myanmar, which will be celebrated on February 1. On this date, which marks an important anniversary in the country’s recent history, the charity’s headquarters …

Burkina Faso: “When the catechist’s family has food, then the whole community has something to eat”

The Diocese of Nouna thanks Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for supporting catechists. (Cover photo: Emmanuel is one of the catechists who, because of his extreme poverty, is one of the food aid recipients). Thanks to help from the international pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Burkinabé Diocese of …

North Kivu, DR Congo – A hard Christmas

“Many people are fleeing their villages,” says missionary Fr. Marcelo Oliveira accuses neighbouring countries of instigating the violence taking place in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where rebel groups did not even respect a Christmas truce. (Cover photo: in 2017, victims of M23 set camp in Goma outskirts). Christmas was a difficult …