Home » Regional Activity » Europe in 2021

Europe in 2021

In Europe, the Church needs help, especially in the former Eastern Bloc states. There, atheistic communism left a great vacuum in society that has not yet been completely overcome, even 30 years after political transition. In Northern Europe, where very few Catholics live, the local Church is also in need of support. Where it is in need, ACN supports the Church, especially in the education and training of priests, religious and the laity. 

Particularly in the countries of Eastern Europe, where the Catholic Church is in the minority, the Church still relies on foreign aid. To ensure pastoral care in the mostly sprawling parishes of Eastern Europe, the foundation finances new vehicles for priests and religious sisters, for example.

Particularly in Eastern Europe, the Church is dependent on aid from abroad.

In Russia, a traditionally Orthodox country, ACN has been actively engaged in a dialogue with the Orthodox Church for nearly 30years. This commitment was entrusted to ACN in 1992 by Pope Saint John Paul II. And it is bearing fruit: Over the course of time, many joint initiatives have been developed in which the Catholic and Orthodox Churches work hand in hand to find solutions to current problems.

Pastoral care in central Siberia during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pastoral care in central Siberia during the coronavirus pandemic.

In Northern Europe, the Catholic Church has no historically established presence. Catholics make up only a tiny minority. The majority of the few Catholics are immigrants. Due to this minority situation, the local Church is dependent on aid from abroad.

Don't miss the latest updates!

Philippines

The Philippines is the only majority Christian country in Asia.…

Russia

The pandemic in 2021 has again severely affected Russia. This…

Albania

With a share of 10% of Albania’s approximately 3 million…

Ukraine

Ukraine was already a country in crisis before the pandemic.…

Indonesia

In Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation with 272 million…

India

With almost 1.4 billion inhabitants, India has the second largest…

Nepal

Nepal is marked by its geographical location in the Himalayan…

Pakistan

In the Islamic Republic of Republic of Pakistan, 96.4% of…

Armenia

Armenia, located in the Near Eastern Caucasus region, has been…

Related projects from Europe in 2021

Europa

Europa: Wo die katholische Kirche in den osteuropäischen Ländern eine Minderheit darstellt, ist sie weiterhin auf Hilfe aus dem Ausland angewiesen. Durch die Pandemie benötigen viele Ordensgemeinschaften noch stärkere Unterstützung...

Russia

The pandemic in 2021 has again severely affected Russia. This meant that 2021 was a difficult year with great challenges – also for the numerically small local Catholic Church, which...

Albania

With a share of 10% of Albania’s approximately 3 million inhabitants, the Catholic Church is a minority in the country. The majority of the population is Muslim. Even today, the...

Related projects

Europa

Europa: Wo die katholische Kirche in den osteuropäischen Ländern eine Minderheit darstellt, ist sie weiterhin auf Hilfe aus dem Ausland angewiesen. Durch die Pandemie benötigen viele Ordensgemeinschaften noch stärkere Unterstützung...

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is the third largest island nation in the world. In some parts of the country, the Catholic Church has only been present for a few generations. Nevertheless,...

Philippines

The Philippines is the only majority Christian country in Asia. More than 80% of the archipelago’s 109 million inhabitants are Catholic. In 2021, the Church in the Philippines celebrated the...