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.

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.