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Pope Leo XIV to pray Rosary for peace with hundreds of children at the Vatican
On 1 October, between 700 and 1,000 children from schools and parishes in Rome will join the Holy Father in the Vatican Gardens, marking the beginning of the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative promoted by Aid to the Church in Need. Pope Leo XIV will join hundreds of children in praying the Rosary […]
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La Guaira: “We do not remember them for the tragedy, but for the light they left behind”
Three months after the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela, young…
Pope Leo XIV takes up ACN’s worldwide call to pray the Rosary for peace
Holy Father extends to the whole Church an appeal that…
New report paints worrying picture of minority rights in Pakistan
Christians and members of other minorities in Pakistan continue to…
Algeria. “The call for a female presence in Tamanrasset remains very much alive,” says bishop
Bishop Diego Sarrió Cucarella hopes the Pope’s recent visit to…
“You are not going to spend money on tuition if you’re not sure you can feed your family”
As wars continue to affect the region, ACN is helping…
Pope Leo XIV to pray Rosary for peace with hundreds of children at the Vatican
On 1 October, between 700 and 1,000 children from schools…
Church demands investigation as another priest murdered in Mexico
Fr Román was found dead, by the side of the…
Gaza Catholic school reopens for 1,000 pupils after nearly three years of war
The parish priest of Gaza has said that the re-opening…
Cardinal Koch calls on ACN to bear witness to the truth and beauty of the Gospel
In a meeting with ecclesiastical assistants from national offices of…
List of News
La Guaira: “We do not remember them for the tragedy, but for the light they left behind”
Three months after the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela, young people from the Diocese of La Guaira gathered to pray, sing, and remember those who were part of their groups,...
Pope Leo XIV takes up ACN’s worldwide call to pray the Rosary for peace
Holy Father extends to the whole Church an appeal that ACN has promoted worldwide for more than 20 years. Königstein, 27 September 2026 – Pope Leo XIV has called on...
New report paints worrying picture of minority rights in Pakistan
Christians and members of other minorities in Pakistan continue to suffer from systemic discrimination. Blasphemy and violence against women and girls are a particular concern. A new report published by...
Algeria. “The call for a female presence in Tamanrasset remains very much alive,” says bishop
Bishop Diego Sarrió Cucarella hopes the Pope’s recent visit to Algeria may adress administrative obstacles preventing more religious from moving to the country. There is something about the desert that...
“You are not going to spend money on tuition if you’re not sure you can feed your family”
As wars continue to affect the region, ACN is helping to support Christian education all across the Middle East. Keeping schools running is key to preserving Christian communities. September marks...
Pope Leo XIV to pray Rosary for peace with hundreds of children at the Vatican
On 1 October, between 700 and 1,000 children from schools and parishes in Rome will join the Holy Father in the Vatican Gardens, marking the beginning of the “One Million...
Church demands investigation as another priest murdered in Mexico
Fr Román was found dead, by the side of the road, with bullet wounds. The region of Huejutla is riddled with criminal organizations involved in all manners of trafficking, including...
Gaza Catholic school reopens for 1,000 pupils after nearly three years of war
The parish priest of Gaza has said that the re-opening of a Catholic school in the devastated territory offers “a sign of hope” for people who have very little to...
“I cried tears of despair”, says priest who spent over two years in hands of jihadists
Fr Luigi Maccalli learned in captivity to forgive and pray for his enemies, following the example of Jesus. In an interview with ACN, he shared his experience. Fr Pier Luigi...
Cardinal Koch calls on ACN to bear witness to the truth and beauty of the Gospel
In a meeting with ecclesiastical assistants from national offices of ACN, Cardinal Kurt Koch highlighted the “ecumenism of the martyrs” which is helping heal wounds between different Christian confessions. The...
Bamenda, Cameroon: A catechism to teach peace after ten years of violence
Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya, of Bamenda, is preparing a catechism consisting of one hundred questions and answers inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace. With the support of Aid...
Colombia: “Jesus himself has gone out into the streets to meet the people”
One month after the earthquake that struck Colombia on 10 August, its material and emotional consequences are still deeply felt. Amid the destruction, priests, religious sisters and other pastoral agents...
From Rome to the world: children unite in a week of prayer for peace
From 1 to 7 October, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is inviting children, families, schools and parishes around the world to take part in “One Million Children Praying...
Church in Mauritania: A spirit of friendship in the desert
The Catholic Church in Mauritania is in a unique position: there are no Mauritanian Christians, and the entire Catholic community is made up of foreigners and expats. In this context,...
Venezuela: “Nothing will stand in the way of our mission,” says La Guaira bishop
Two months after an earthquake rendered their church unusable, 62 youths from a small mountain community in Venezuela received the sacrament of confirmation in an celebration held outdoors. The...
Christian schools in Jerusalem protest non-renewal of entry permits for teachers
Christian schools in Jerusalem announced the suspension of classes on 1 September 2026, due to the non-renewal of entry permits into the city for dozens of members of their staff....
Bishops urge an end to massacres in Nigeria
ACN continues to accompany the Church in Nigeria in its efforts to counteract the effects of endemic violence, and its appeals for peace in the country. The Catholic bishops of...
Nepal priest: “Our presence among those who are suffering will give them hope”
The Catholic Church in Nepal has mobilised to support the victims of the devastating floods that struck the Himalayan country on 26 August, sweeping away entire villages and leaving thousands...
“Haiti cannot become a vast cemetery”: alarm raised by Mgr Dumas after gang attack leaves at least 47 dead
On the night of 23 to 24 August, more than 47 people were killed by armed gangs in Kenscoff, a Haitian town near Port-au-Prince. Mgr Pierre-André Dumas, Vice-President of the...
Fadi Azar, Franciscan from Syria: “The lack of security has grown enormously”
The Christian community has seen discrimination rise, but remains firm in the faith in the land where Christianity has its roots. The situation in Syria remains unstable almost two years...
Indonesia earthquake: Bishop witnesses “tears of sorrow slowly transform into the dawn of hope”
The Catholic Church is at the forefront of efforts to help victims of the earthquake that struck one of the most densely Christian islands of Indonesia. The Indonesian island of...
“However great evil is, it will never destroy everything”, says Donetsk Bishop
At the age of 46, Maksym Ryabukha, SDB, is a war zone bishop. Half of his exarchate is occupied by the Russian army, making it impossible for him to carry...
Lebanon: 7,465 children and young people find refuge from war in ACN-funded summer camps
In Lebanon today, organising a few days of activities for children and young people has become an obstacle course. Yet, for the local Church, these camps are more necessary than...
Nigeria: “Human life is sacred. There can be no lynching in a civilised society”
Northern Nigeria usually appears in the news because of violence, kidnappings or interreligious conflicts. However, in the midst of that reality there are also many experiences of peaceful coexistence between...
UN Special Rapporteur Nazila Ghanea: “Civil society plays a critical role in defending freedom of religion or belief”
To mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, the UN Special Rapporteur has sent a video message to Aid to the...
Bishop denounces rise in criminality in Mozambique, as religious sisters attacked
This is not the first time a religious home has been violently attacked in the African country, which is still dealing with a violent insurgency in the north. The president...
Church in Colombia aids victims of devastating earthquake while assessing damages
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck large parts of western and central Colombia on Monday, 10 August. The epicentre was recorded in the municipality of San José del Palmar, in the department...
Earthquake in Colombia: Church assessing needs for emergency aid
A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck much of western and central Colombia on Monday. While authorities assess the scale of the emergency, the Catholic Church is already accompanying affected communities...
HAITI: “We are the last retaining wall: moral, ethical, spiritual and prophetic… That is why they want to eliminate us’, says bishop
As the country sinks into an unprecedented crisis, corroded by armed gangs, the Church remains standing, sowing hope in the midst of despair. The legislative and presidential elections due to...
ACN joins Mexican bishops’ call for religious freedom
The Catholic bishops of Mexico have marked the centenary of the “Calles Law”, which imposed restrictions on the life of the Church and placed priestly ministry under state control in...
The return of Iraq’s Christians: a possible model for Nigeria
Catholic leaders advocate for the right of return of internally displaced people. The return of thousands of displaced Christians to their places of origin in Iraq, supported by ACN following...
Medjugorje vandalisation is latest in wave of desecrations
From Spain to the USA, several churches have been vandalised in the past three months. Although the attacks seem unrelated to each other, they show that religious freedom is not...
Iraqi Prime Minister: “Christians are an active component, an essential part of Iraqi society”
The Iraqi government is offering incentives for Christians to return to the country. The Prime Minister’s words will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of Iraqi Catholic bishops in August....
Beatification of Patriarch Hoyek is a sign of hope for Lebanon
On 25 July, in Lebanon, the Maronite Church will celebrate the beatification of Patriarch Elias Hoyek (1843-1931), the father of “Greater Lebanon” and founder of the Maronite Sisters of the...
Venezuela earthquakes. “The Church is more than buildings. We are with the people in the streets”
ACN has already committed to a second aid package which, according to its executive president, will be “much higher than the initial 100 thousand euros” given right after the earthquakes...
Situation in Venezuela “apocalyptic”, but Church is organised and responding
ACN’s aid is currently supporting the religious and laity who are helping the victims on the ground, but future projects are already being studied and could include rebuilding church structures...
Bishops: 12 years on and still no justice for young couple burnt alive in a brick kiln
Bishops say Supreme Court decision is part of cycle of injustice for victims of persecution Bishops in Pakistan have spoken of their dismay after the country’s Supreme Court quashed the...
Venezuela: Seminarians put theology into practice among the rubble
“Seeing people embrace us and seek comfort in us is a sign that the Church’s mission is to be with the people,” says one Venezuelan seminarian. Germán Jiménez, a seminarian...
“Arnona” tax tests the rights of Churches in Jerusalem
Israel's municipal property tax, known as “Arnona”, has become the centre of a new standoff between the Churches and the municipality of Jerusalem. Christian leaders fear that challenging the exemptions...