IRAQ - “Many Christians hope to return to their homes” Christian IDPs in Erbil, Kurdish Iraq continue depend to depend on aid as they are awaiting the opportunity to return to their home on the Nineveh plains. They have been cared for by by the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil—under the [...]
World’s oldest nun dies at 110 years Sister Candida Bellotti, thought to be the oldest nun in the world who, died recently on 3 June aged 110. Earlier this year, Pope Francis had sent Sister Bellotti a special greeting when she celebrated her 110th birthday on 20 Feb. Pope [...]
PHILIPPINES - “Marawi is all ruined, there is destruction everywhere” Interview by Jonathan Luciano, ACN Philippines National Director, with Bishop Prelate of Marawi Edwin dela Peña (MSP) about the situation in the Prelature of Marawi in the Southern Philippines, where the terrorist Maute group attacked the city, killing Christians [...]
CAMEROON - Autopsy raises suspicions about African bishop’s death An autopsy has revealed “signs of torture” on the body of Bishop Jean-Marie Benoît Balla of Bafia whose body was found in a river last week. Unusual circumstances surrounded the death of the Cameroonian bishop, leading some to think he had [...]
UK - Cardinal Nichols and Iraqi bishop bless crucifix that survived Islamic State occupation At first sight, it appeared nothing had survived the devastation left by Islamic State in the ancient Christian lands of the Nineveh Plain in Iraq. But half buried in the rubble, outside St George's Church [...]
CUBA - First Catholic church to be built in 60 years A new Catholic church is being built in Sandino, located in the western corner of Cuba - the first in 60 years. About 40,000 people live in the coastal town. The new church will be called the Parish [...]
EGYPT - “This is our country. We will never leave it” INTERVIEW with Bishop William Kyrillos of Assiut on the occasion of his visit to the national office of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need in Brazil. Aid to the Church in Need – What is the [...]
PHILIPPINES - Marawi: Abducted Christians may be used as bargaining chips “I hope the government will act wisely and prudently in order to avoid a bloodbath.” The words are those of PIME missionary Father Sebastiano D’Ambra and he is referring in particular to the abduction of Father Teresito Soganub, [...]
MALAYSIA - Christian politician criticised by Muslims for publishing book about her faith The federal constitution of Malaysia states that "every person has the right to profess and practice his religion". Yet in Selangor (one of Malaysia's 13 states) a Christian politician, Hannah Yeoh, is under fire for publishing a [...]
FRANCE - Opening of the Process of Beatification of Fr Jacques Hamel Pope Francis decided to dispense with the usual five-year delay after the death of a baptized person to open the process of Beatification of Father Jacques Hamel. The announcement was made by Mgr Dominque Lebrun on 2October 2016 [...]
