The Voice of the suffering and persecuted​

Naturally, this affects the  Church. Parishes and communities are unable to provide services to the faithful; heating is limited;; and the Church’s social projects, including orphanages, nursing homes, schools, and kindergartens struggle to operate in darkness. Food poisoning is also rampant due to a lack of refrigeration.

This month, dozens of Christians have been killed in towns and villages across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, most recently around Easter, according to information sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) by local Catholic leaders.

"I saw a ball of fire, and the roof began to fall. I covered my head with my arms and ran out of the church, where I found my father. I was in shock. My father asked me where my mother was, and I raced back into the church. I found her in the benches, injured and dying."

For more than 30 years, the eastern part of the country has been subject to violence carried out by 120 armed militias, who fight over territory and seek to exploit natural resources. These armed groups include the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is affiliated with the Islamic State. According to the United Nations, the conflict in the eastern Congo has resulted in six million deaths since 1996. The Congolese army has been unable to deal with the situation, and the millions displaced by the fighting are the largest such contingent in all of ...

“At the moment, we are living in a very polarized environment. There is a lot of pressure to pick a camp and make accusations, but if you do so, you become part of this game. The reality is very complicated, with many ‘footnotes,’ ‘brackets,’ and ‘parentheses.’”

“The origin of ACN is closely linked to the apparitions and grace of Fátima, where Our Lady chose to show the Church the path to triumph over evil in the world: through love, prayer, sacrifice, and consecration to her Immaculate Heart."

"Despite its natural wealth, and income generated by exports of wood and oil, the people are very poor, not only financially, but morally, too. Congo-Brazzaville has a turbulent history, which has left its mark on the population."

The catechist was abducted last night by terrorists and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning. According to local sources reporting to the charity more people were kidnapped and killed along with him.

A bishop from Equatorial Guinea reflects on the causes and consequences of migration in Africa, and asks for a stronger focus on the fight against poverty and illegal emigration. In 2023, at least 8,565 people died on migratory routes all over the world, making it the deadliest year on record, according to figures published on March 6th by the International Organization for Migration. The Mediterranean route continues to be the most dangerous, with at least 3,129 people dying or going missing last year. Most of the deaths in Africa happened in the Sahara Desert and on the sea route ...

.“Church organizations and the authorities must find ways to provide families with access to basic services in their homelands. Often it is situations like these that force them to emigrate to the cities, as they must choose between access to education, health care and food, and remaining connected to their traditions and way of life.v.“Church organizations and the authorities must find ways to provide families with access to basic services in their homelands. Often it is situations like these that force them to emigrate to the cities, as they must choose between access to education, health care and food, ...