Holy See urges UN to protect children in war zones A recent UN report confirming a worrying increasing in violence against children in conflict zones prompted the Holy See to urge the United Nations and local governments to protect the innocent children from the effects of violent conflict worldwide. The report [...]
Pope Francis visits refuge for former prostitutes Pope Francis has visited a special community for women freed from prostitution and violent abuse as his latest ‘Mercy Friday’ initiative during the Jubilee. During his visit to the “Pope John XXIII Community” in Rome, the Pope met the 20 women who are being [...]
SYRIA - A cry for help from Carmelite Sisters in Aleppo “The situation is a complicated and we are hearing many contradictory stories. The only truth we do know is that the people here are suffering and dying.”The words are those of Sister Anne-Françoise, a French religious of the Enclosed and Apostolic [...]
THAILAND - Pope inspires parish to plant 800 trees Catholic parishioners of Mount Carmel Church in Paphanawan, in the far northeastern region of Thailand, have come up with an idea to combat the environmental threats around them, including water shortage. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for creation, they decided to [...]
“The EU is more concerned about migrants than the country” – message from Mgr George Bugeja “We are all people of the same God we believe in. In the name of this God we can live in peace like brothers.” This is the message coming from Tripoli sent by Monsignor George [...]
Pope Francis prays for victims of recent massacre in Congo Pope Francis marked the feast of the Assumption of Mary by praying for the dozens of people massacred last weekend in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and decrying the “shameful silence” which surround these attacks. At least 36 civilians were killed [...]
IRAQ - Ordination of new priests in refugee camp brings joy to displaced Christians there Three young deacons, who were themselves displaced when ISIS attacked their seminary in Qaraqosh, have just been ordained priests of the Syriac-Catholic in the large, prefabricated church inside Erbil’s Aishty 2 camp, which is home to 5,500 [...]
Reflection on the feast of the Assumption two years ago in Erbil This picture was taken in Erbil by ACN staff, 9 days after ISIS took over the Nineveh Plain and thousands and thousands of people were displaced.“It was amazing and touching to see so much devotion, so much love to [...]
Let’s be One” – 3000 postcards sent to young people in conflict zones The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is taking stock of its campaign “Let’s be One,” launched at the World Youth Day in Cracow from 26 to 31 July 2016. The aim of the [...]
NIGERIA - Christians feel abandoned by Western churches Nigerian Christians, who have suffered for years from attacks by radical Islamic groups, feel abandoned by Western churches that have failed to speak out about the developing humanitarian tragedy.Nigerian Christians have been targeted by the radical Boko Haram group since 2009. In the past year, [...]