Home » STORIES » Aid to the Church in Need – our history

Aid to the Church in Need – our history

August 22, 2018

For 70 years now, Aid to the Church in Need has followed a single mission: to build a bridge of love that enables the suffering and persecuted Christians worldwide to witness their faith and inspire those who help them. ACN acts under the guiding principle: information, prayer and action. In fulfilling its work an essential part of ACN’s mission is to inform about this hidden suffering of Catholics in the world. We are committed to religious freedom and reconciliation across all faiths. To know more about the Pontifical foundation, watch the video

ACN Press Team

Meet the author

Don't miss the latest updates!

News Nigeria

Nigerian bishop on school kidnappings: “Our hearts are broken, but our faith remains firm”

“Evil will never win,” said Nigeria’s National Security Advisor, during…

News Belgium

ACN raises religious freedom concerns at European Parliament’s “Human Dignity” event

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN – International) recently…

News, Special Reports Lebanon

Pope is travelling to Lebanon to “heal wounds” and “work for peace”

Lebanon is still recovering from years of conflict and economic…

News, Press Release

Cardinal Kurt Koch appointed president of ACN – “We are grateful to Pope Leo,” says executive president Regina Lynch

Cardinal Koch has been a friend of ACN for many…

News, Press Release Nigeria

Nigerian Bishops: “Lasting peace cannot be achieved through silence or delay”

Catholic Bishops of Nigeria warn of escalating violence and call…

News, Press Release Nigeria

New mass abduction of schoolgirls in northern Nigeria

The attack represents “a major blow to the education of…

News Mozambique

Four Christians killed, villages razed in fresh attack in Mozambique

An estimated 128,000 people have had to flee the affected…

News Nigeria

Nigeria: Priest abducted in the Archdiocese of Kaduna

The west African nation has been classified as suffering from…

News

Red Week 2025: A global cry for religious freedom

Over half a million people are expected to take part…

Press ReleaseMozambique

Cardinal Parolin tells “heroic” Christians of Mozambique: “You are not alone!”

In a risky trip to Cabo Delgado, home to a ruthless jihadist violence, the Vatican’s secretary of State thanked the work of Aid to the Church in Need. Cardinal Pietro...

December 10, 2025

FeaturedNigeria

Nigeria. Catechist forgives man who tried to kill him over his ministry

Despite several attacks and one attempted murder, Yahaya and his family decided to remain in Sokoto to carry out his ministry of service to the Church. Around 3 a.m. on...

December 10, 2025

NewsNigeria

Nigerian bishop on school kidnappings: “Our hearts are broken, but our faith remains firm”

“Evil will never win,” said Nigeria’s National Security Advisor, during a visit to the bishop of Kontagora, where over 300 children were kidnapped in late November. Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna...

December 5, 2025

Meet other authors

ACN Peru

ACN Press Team

Aleksandra Szymczak

Aleksandra Szymczak is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Amélie Berthelin

Amélie Berthelin is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Amy Balog

Amy Balog is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Andrea Krogmann

Andrea Krogmann is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Blanca Tortosa

Andrea Krogmann is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Charlotte Halle

Charlotte Halle is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Christophe Lafontaine

Charlotte Halle is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Conn McNally

Conn McNally is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Daniel Beurthe

Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Esther Gaitan-Fuertes

Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Fadi Essa

Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Father Jan Zelazny

Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Filipe d’Avillez

Filipe d’Avillez is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Hernan Cadena

Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Hernán Darío Cadena

Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

John Burger

Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

John Newton

Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

John Pontifex

John Pontifex is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Jonas Soto

John Pontifex is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Josué Villalón

Josué Villalón is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Lucía Ballester

Lucía Ballester is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Łukasz Zając

Lucía Ballester is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Marcela Szymanski

Marcela Szymanski is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Maria Lozano

María Lozano is a Spanish journalist and media producer based in Germany. She is the Director of the Press and Media...

Marta Petrosillo

Marta Petrosillo is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Martina Ferrero

Martina Ferrero is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Massimiliano Tubani

Massimiliano Tubani is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Milena

Massimiliano Tubani is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Nathalie Raffray

Massimiliano Tubani is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Oliver Maksan

Oliver Maksan is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Paulo Aido

Paulo Aido is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Rodrigo Arantes

Paulo Aido is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Sina Hartert

Sina Hartert is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Sylvain Dorient

Sylvain Dorient is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Tatiana Porto

Sylvain Dorient is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Tatianna Porto

Tatianna Porto is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Teresa Fontes de Albornoz

Teresa Fontes de Albornoz is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based...

Tobias Lehner

Teresa Fontes de Albornoz is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based...

Volker Niggewöhner

Volker Niggewöhner is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...

Xavier Burgos

Volker Niggewöhner is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...