ACN International President Cardinal Kurt Koch: “Today there are more martyrs than in the first centuries of Christianity”
During the annual pilgrimage for persecuted Christians in Einsiedeln, 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 Church in Need International (ACN), reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to supporting persecuted and suffering Christians during the annual pilgrimage for persecuted Christians held at Benedictine Einsiedeln Abbey organised by ACN Switzerland.
Reflecting on the reality of religious persecution in today’s world, Cardinal Koch stressed that martyrdom is not merely a phenomenon of the past but remains a lived reality for countless Christians around the globe.
“Martyrdom truly belongs to the heart of Christianity. Today there are more martyrs than in the first centuries of Church history,” he said.
The President of ACN International also emphasized that persecuted Christians offer a powerful witness to Christian unity today.
“Dictators do not distinguish between Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans or Protestants,” he said, recalling Pope Francis‘ expression “the ecumenism of blood”. “The blood that has been shed unites Christians beyond their divisions.”
“Christians are not persecuted because they belong to a particular Church, but because of their faith in Christ”, he added.
During the pilgrimage, special prayers were offered for victims of persecution and violence in countries including Iraq, Haiti, Pakistan and Indonesia. Participants prayed for Christian communities suffering discrimination, forced displacement, abduction and violence because of their faith.
In an interview with ACN on the occasion of the pilgrimage, Cardinal Koch also spoke about his recent appointment by Pope Leo XIV as President of the pontifical foundation.
“I accepted this mission with great joy because ACN has always been very close to my heart,” he said. “It is a pontifical foundation that does immense good while constantly reminding us how many parts of the Church are living in situations of great need. To contribute to this mission is something very important to me.”
The Cardinal reaffirmed the importance of standing in solidarity with suffering Christian communities and underlined ACN’s commitment to supporting the persecuted, discriminated and suffering Church throughout the world.
The pilgrimage also included a panel discussion on the role of the Church in situations of war, persecution and humanitarian crises. Participants reflected on how faith, practical assistance and pastoral accompaniment continue to bring hope to communities facing violence and instability.
Donations collected during the pilgrimage will support ACN projects in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, where the foundation assists displaced families, traumatised individuals and Catholic schools serving vulnerable communities.
ACN is a pontifical foundation supporting Christians wherever they are persecuted, discriminated against or suffering pastoral need. Thanks to the generosity of its benefactors, ACN funds more than 5,000 projects each year in around 130 countries worldwide.
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