Pope Francis is set to embark on the first-ever papal visit to the biblical land of Iraq this weekend in a kind of spiritual pilgrimage to the place known in Arabic as the "land of the two rivers" -- the mighty Tigris and Euphrates -- and once renowned as Mesopotamia, [...]
Brother of Shahbaz Bhatti speaks out on 10th anniversary of his death Peter Bhatti calls for Maira Shahbaz to be granted asylum The brother of Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistan government minister who gave his life for persecuted faith groups, has marked the 10th anniversary of the assassination by saying the [...]
Violence against women from religious minorities is massively under reported, according to a fresh report by a UK parliamentary group. The findings come as part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)’s 2021 Commentary on the Current State of International Freedom of Religion or [...]
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing security concerns, Pope Francis is determined to visit Iraq to pay homage to Christian and other minorities persecuted for their faith and to strengthen the commitment of the overwhelming majority of Iraqi Muslims to creating a future of peace and harmony. As a pilgrim [...]
AL-TAHIRA CHURCH IN QARAQOSH (BAGHDEDA) was almost completely destroyed by ISIS, when it occupied part of northern Iraq (2014-2017). Thanks to the generous support of donors of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the church has been rebuilt over the course of the last few years and is now [...]
A 12-year-old Christian girl in Pakistan shackled and enslaved by a man who made her marry him and convert is now back home after a stunning court victory. Faisalabad District and Sessions Court on 16th February ruled that Farah Shaheen should be allowed to return to her father and siblings after [...]
Catholics in Burkina Faso are undaunted by Islamist persecution – according to their bishop – in spite of 10 attacks over the last six months in his diocese alone, including one last week, which left eight people dead and nine others injured. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need [...]
It has been three years since the kidnapping of Leah Sharibu and a senior Christian leader in Nigeria is appealing to people around the world to call on their governments to demand action to free her. Rev Gideon Para-Mallam pointed out that the teenage Christian girl – who was captured [...]
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) helps institutions dedicated to St. Joseph all over the world In honour of the Year of St. Joseph, the international Catholic pastoral charity, ACN is highlighting the many projects it supports in Latin America, Africa, the Near East, Eastern Europe and Asia which [...]
Western sanctions against the Syrian government have plunged the country’s people into abject poverty but have left the Assad regime unaffected – according to a leading bishop from Aleppo. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Jean-Clément Jeanbart of Aleppo condemned the sanctions as [...]
