ACN dedicates its Lenten campaign to martyrs of hope: “Martyrs of our days: witnesses of hope” is a call to show solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world. Inspired by Pope Francis’ invitation to celebrate a Jubilee of Hope, this campaign aims to highlight the fact that, despite the persecution they suffer, today’s martyrs continue to be examples of consolation, faith and hope. 

Goma, the capital of the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is in imminent danger of being taken over by the M23 rebels who have taken over the airport and parts of the city. As fighting reportedly continues within the city, the Church fears for the well-being of the innocent civilian population.

When Fr Antonio Polo arrived in Salinas, Ecuador, from his native Italy, over five decades ago, he was not only struck by the beauty of the landscape but also by the difficult conditions in which its inhabitants lived. “There were no roads, no electricity, and the population worked very hard in the salt mines,” he tells ACN. The salt mines themselves had quite an impact on him: the mountains of salt that shone like white cathedrals and the glittering salt mirrors were built with hard working days which put a heavy strain on the health and skin of the workers. 54 years later, he knows his mission is coming to an end, and he has given his life to love and serve people of Salinas, Ecuador.

Being a priest or religious sister today is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The number of priests and religious kidnapped increased in 2024, while the numbers arrested for reasons of persecution diminished. In total, ACN registered 122 cases impacting priests and religious, including 13 murders, 38 kidnappings and 71 held under arrest. Ten of these incidents involved women, eight of whom were kidnapped and two arrested.

This is a translation of a letter requesting prayer for Burkina Faso, from Bishop Laurent Dabiré at the Bishop’s Conference in Burkina Faso.

We are building a chapel in Golo Popa, a remote outstation in Indonesia with a population of over 1700 Catholics. They have no chapel, and so they gather in the school on Sundays for Holy Mass, but during the weekdays when school is on, they have nowhere to celebrate the Eucharist. With your support, we can finish this building and give them a strong and beautiful House of God to worship Him in.

The Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo in the extreme North of Cameroon has suffered sporadic attacks from Boko Haram. Mgr Bruno Ateba shares with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) his hope for the future through spiritual and educational formation programmes, especially for young people and families. He also explains the importance of translating the Bible into Mafa, a powerful tool to strengthen the faith of a majority Christian tribe.

Christmas was a difficult time for the people of North Kivu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have been filled with constant fear and anguish because of the armed groups that are active near the border with Rwanda. In a message to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Portuguese Comboni missionary, Fr Marcelo, calls out the militias of “wanting to massacre the population, to take control of the land and steel the natural resources”.

Just over a year after extremists murdered more than 300 people in coordinated attacks targeting Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria, the faithful gathered for a special Mass to remember the victims last Sunday (5 January).

Despite the widespread terrorism which is increasingly affecting Burkina Faso, and although priests and catechists are the main targets among pastoral agents, the country has seen a growth in priestly vocations in recent years. Supporting these future priests in their formation is one of ACN’s priorities.

In Lahore, Pakistan, where Christians make up only a small minority in a predominantly Muslim society, Christmas takes on a special meaning. Despite facing significant challenges and restrictions, the Christian community continues to celebrate the birth of Christ with deep faith. Fr Lazar Aslam tells ACN what it’s like being a Catholic there.

The tragic death of Suleman Masih, a 24-year-old Christian, has shocked the local community and once again highlighted the challenges faced by Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan. Suleman was attacked on December 29, 2024, in Kot Saadullah, Rahawali, Gujranwala, and succumbed to his injuries on New Year’s Day.

Cabo Delgado was the area most affected by the fury of cyclone Chido, which swept through Mozambique in the early hours of Sunday, 15 December, after causing destruction in the French archipelago of Mayotte. There are dozens of fatalities, thousands of people lost everything, and now are asking how they will survive. In an initial report, the Diocese of Pemba speaks of a “frightening scene of destruction”, and even the IDP camps for victims of terrorism were levelled.

As Syria begins to transition to the new regime, ACN (Aid to the Church in Need) has gathered first-hand testimonies, providing an on-the-ground look at the current situation in key regions, including Homs and Aleppo, where people are dealing the uncertainties of a post-regime time.

Britain’s King Charles III has attended a special Advent service in London, co-hosted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The service at the iconic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair celebrated the courage and perseverance of Christian communities and reflected on the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq by ISIS.

Ireland’s Catholic Church leaders have urged parishioners to continue to speak out for an end to violence and for reconciliation in the Holy Land, as the Christmas season approaches.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa says that even though he does not believe there is a short-term solution to the crisis in the Holy Land, he does have hope for the future of Christians in the region. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem believes that the end of the war in Gaza is in sight but warns that the suspension of military operations does not equal peace.

Catechists, often at the risk to their own lives, are pillars of the Church in Burkina Faso. Despite the continuous terrorist threats against them, they assure, in the absence of priests, the continuity of faith in villages and displacement camps. In an interview with ACN, a priest from the Diocese of Kaya explains that being a catechist means giving yourself entirely, guided by unshakeable faith in Christ.

The political situation in Syria, which has led to a drastic change in the country’s leadership, continues to deeply affect the lives of its citizens, particularly the Christian communities. Dr Georges Assadourian, the Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Damascus, shared with the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) how recent events in the capital have been experienced, and reflected on the role of Christians during this period of transition.

Charity Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland – which supports thousands of vulnerable minority Christian communities in 140 countries – is making an urgent appeal for prayer and support for the Christian community and all residents of Aleppo, Syria, who are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis.