NIGERIA "We live in fear" - 2 priests  and 15 parishioners killed in  attack on church “Living in fear. The Fulani are still around us here in Mbalom. They refuse to go. They still go grazing around us. No weapons to defend ourselves.” These words were written on Facebook in [...]

CONGO BRAZZAVILLE A priest among the pygmies  - the story of an unusual apostolate     Father Franck Bango is the parish priest of the first ever pygmy parish in the country, in the diocese Ouesso in the north of the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville). He lives among the [...]

ALGERIA 4 churches ordered to close in 4 months as pressure against Christians intensifies   Another church has been closed down in northern Algeria, as pressure against Christians intensifies. The village church in Azagher, which had been running for over six years, was forced to stop all activities on 2 [...]

NIGERIA A child survivor of Fulani attacks tells her story It is common in Nigeria that nomadic herdsmen clash with farmers over the use of land. However, in the past year, in particular, raids by Muslim Fulani herdsmen have become more violent and have targeted Christians. Mysteriously, the herdsmen carry [...]

PAKISTAN Archbishop appeals for prayers after yet another attack on Christians   A leading Pakistan bishop has appealed for prayer after Christians in Quetta suffered their third attack in five months.  Two Christian men – named as Rashid Khalid and Azhar Iqbal – and three others were injured after four [...]

MEXICO Death toll rises to 22 as another priest is murdered in his own church   Sadly, Mexico is living up to its reputation of being “the most dangerous country in the worlds to be a priest.”  Yet another priest, Fr Ruben Alcantara Diaz aged 50, was killed on 18 [...]

SYRIA “We need peace. Please pray for us!” - urgent appeal from Archbishop Arbach   Following the latest attacks in Syria, one of the country’s leading bishops has issued an impassioned plea for peace – saying that the country needs prayer and not further violence. Melkite Archbishop Jean Abdou Arbach [...]

IRAQ There are forces interested in destabilising the situation and expelling Christians   SYRIAC-ORTHODOX Archbishop Mar Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf heads the Archeparchy of Mosul, Kirkuk and Syriac Orthodox Church. In this interview, conducted by Ragheb Elias Karash for the foundation Aid to the Church in Need (USA), he addresses the [...]

Carrying on the work of Faith New senior appointment at Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)   The new Executive President of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Thomas Heine-Geldern, said he intends to continue his predecessor’s approach –including trusting in God for the success [...]