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Following in the footsteps of the “Witnesses of Hope” – on the occasion of the “Jubilee of the Martyrs” during the Holy Year.

May 8 – 10, 2025

About the pilgrimage

ACN celebrates in the most important basilicas in Rome

ACN organises an ACN Day in San Giovanni Laterano

More than 1000 pilgrims from the countries of our national offices

Highlights

  • Testimonies of inspiring project partners and church services in important basilicas such as the Lateran Basilica and Santa Maria Maggiore

  • Way of the Cross with martyrs and witnesses of the faith of today: As an ACN family, we come together with pilgrims from all over the world to encounter various aspects of the work of the Church in Need and to pray together for the martyrs of our time.

    This pilgrimage with ACN is a unique opportunity to deepen your faith and experience the universal church up close.  It combines prayer, encounter and testimony of faith in a special way.

Programme

Thursday 8 May, 2025 , morning:
Meeting of all groups in the garden of the Generalate of the Passionists

Afternoon:
ACN-Prayer-Day “Witnesses of Hope” : Meeting and prayer with project partners from all over the world in the Lateran Basilica

Friday 9 May, afternoon:
Participation in the Stations of the Cross with martyrs and witnesses of the faith of today in the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle

Saturday 10 May, afternoon:
Final mass in Santa Maria Maggiore

Celebrate from anywhere

Follow the events from home.

Liturgy brochures will be available soon.

Pilgrim’s booklet ➔

Discourse by H. E. Mauro Piacenza, 8 May in the garden of the Generalate of the Passionists ➔

Information for pilgrims

Important addresses

The four Papal Basilicas of Rome

  • Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (Lateran Basilica)
    Address: Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, 4
  • Basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano (St Peter’s Basilica)
    Address: Piazza San Pietro
  • Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura (St Paul Outside the Walls)
    Address: Via Ostiense, 186
  • Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
    Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 42

Practical information

Museum of the New Martyrs (ACN co-financed):
Church of San Bartolomeo all’Isola, Piazza di San Bartolomeo all’Isola , 22

Pilgrimage kits
Can be collected on 7 May from 12.00 to 20.00 at the Centro San Lorenzo (Via Padre Pfeiffer Pancrazio, 24).

If you have any questions, please contact the group leader in your country.

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)

Founded in 1947, ACN is a pontifical foundation that supports the Church through prayer, information and material aid wherever it is persecuted or oppressed or does not have sufficient resources to carry out its pastoral mission. As an aid organisation, ACN operates in the field of the ministry of the new evangelisation, which aims to strengthen and deepen the Catholic faith, especially where it is in danger of dying out.

Today, ACN is a large international aid organisation, supported by over 350,000 benefactors who support almost 5,000 pastoral projects in around 140 countries every year. ACN’s international headquarters are located in Königstein im Taunus (Germany). The foundation has 24 national branches in Europe, Asia, Oceania and North and South America, which are  to collecting donations.

Let's help the church in need!

How you can help

Prayer

Support this pilgrimage and the witnesses of faith – our project partners – with your prayers.

Donations

Germany
info@acn-deutschland.org  I  www.acn-deutschland.org

Austria
info@acn-oesterreich.org I www.acn-oesterreich.org

Switzerland & Liechtenstein
info@acn-schweiz.org I www.acn-schweiz.org

Contact Information & Support

Contact the ACN National Office in your country ➔.

Please contact us if you have any further questions:

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© ACN Aid to the Church in Need