Red Week 2025: A global cry for religious freedom
Over half a million people are expected to take part in ACN’s Red Week 2025 as more than 600 churches turn red for faith and freedom.
From Vienna to Bogotá, Sydney to Paris, churches and landmarks across the globe will be bathed in red light this November as part of Red Week 2025, a global campaign organised by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to shine a light—literally—on the plight of persecuted Christians, raise awareness of religious persecution and advocate for religious freedom.
Running from November 15 to 23, this year’s Red Week will see more than 100 events all over the world, including Australia, Austria, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Canada, Mexico and Colombia, among others.
The initiative is expected to draw over 10,000 direct participants for prayers, public events, school gatherings, concerts and marches, and will bring together more than 500,000 participants through media outreach and online platforms.
Among those giving testimony during Red Week 2025 are individuals who have personally endured persecution, including two who were victims of terrorist kidnappings. Sister Gloria Narvaez, a Colombian religious who was held captive for nearly five years by Islamist extremists in Mali, will be in Mexico to speak about her ordeal, and Father Hans-Joachim Lohre, a German missionary abducted by jihadist groups in Mali and later released, will speak in Switzerland. In Germany, seven major events will feature Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, of Nigeria, including a solemn mass in the red-lit Regensburg.
Portugal will present ACN’s latest Religious Freedom Report in five cities, accompanied by testimony from Father Hugo Alaniz of Aleppo. The Shrine of Christ the King, which overlooks Lisbon, will be illuminated for three nights, symbolising solidarity with persecuted Christians.
Austria will host a peace march with Orthodox Christians and a parliamentary event attended by Minister Plakolm and Archbishop-elect Grünwidl, with the participation of over 200 parishes and possible illuminations of the Federal Chancellery.
Red: Churches worldwide stand with the persecuted
Once again, hundreds of churches and landmarks will shine red—the colour of martyrdom—to honour those who suffer for their faith. More than 635 churches will be illuminated around the world, in cities such as Vienna, Rome, Zurich, Lisbon, London, Brussels, Budapest, Berlin, Paris, Prague, Dublin, Toronto, Mexico City and Bogotá.
For the first time ever, the European Parliament approved that, in representation of the 27 Member States, the seat in Brussels will be illuminated in red on 19 November. A conference will take place early next year to reflect on religious persecution.
In France, Red Week will be marked by a series of “Nights of Witnesses” held in various cities, offering moments of prayer and testimony. For the first time, iconic Parisian landmarks such as the Obelisk of Concorde, Pont Neuf, and Pont des Arts will be illuminated in red, creating a striking visual message in the heart of the French capital.
In Germany, around 185 churches will take part, including the two cathedrals of Regensburg and Worms. The Netherlands will contribute another 200 illuminated churches, extending Red Week’s visibility throughout the country. Portugal will light up key sites in Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, and Lisbon.
Some of the world’s most emblematic cathedrals will also be illuminated in red during Red Week 2025. These include St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, and Mary Queen of the World Cathedral Basilica in Canada; Las Lajas Cathedral in Colombia; Worms Cathedral in Germany and a remarkable number of cathedrals in Australia and New Zealand, including those of Perth, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Bendigo and Palmerston North.
St George’s Cathedral, London, will be one of the major buildings lit red for #RedWednesday and will be the venue for the main national ACN (UK) event – a Mass on 19 November – celebrated by Bishop Nicholas Hudson. At the Mass, catechist Tobias Yayaha from Sokoto, north-west Nigeria, will receive the ACN (UK) Courage to be Christian Award. He will also be guest of honour at a Parliamentary Event at Westminster, earlier the same day.
Other European countries, like Hungary, Croatia and the Czech Republic will mark Red Wednesday illuminating buildings, such as embassies and the ministries of foreign affairs.
Religious Persecution: The Global Reality
According to the latest estimates from ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World Report, 413 million Christians live in countries where religious freedom is severely violated — of these, approximately 220 million live in countries where they are directly exposed to persecution. This persecution takes many forms and varies by region, but the figures offer a sobering view of the scale of the challenge.
Christians are exposed to persecution or discrimination in 32 countries. In 68 countries, Christian property has been damaged or destroyed with a clear religious bias, with churches being the main targets in 62 of them. In 45 countries, Christians cannot publicly express their faith using religious symbols in public places. Discrimination in access to public office, education, and justice affects Christians in 32 countries. Physical or verbal attacks with religious motivation have been reported in 73 countries, and in 57 countries, Christians face physical violence or detention because of their faith. In 33 countries, Christians are forced to flee, becoming internally displaced or seeking refuge abroad due to religious persecution.
The colour red, symbolising the blood of martyrs, will serve as a visual reminder of the suffering endured by millions for their faith. ACN invites all parishes, schools, and communities to join this international gesture of solidarity by illuminating their churches in red, organising moments of prayer, and sharing the message of Red Week 2025 on social media using the hashtag #RedWeek2025.
