The Voice of the suffering in Latin America

In one of Mexico’s most dangerous states, the Working Sisters help children who are exposed to violence. With ACN’s support, they also train novices who grew up in difficult environments, preparing them to bring hope to vulnerable communities.   “One of our children saw his father be killed,” says Sister Rosalina during an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “We had another case of three children who witnessed the murder of their mother in front of their house. ...

In the face of rampant violence, which is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and isolating Haiti from the rest of the world, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti, in a message received by ACN, calls on the government to act and appeals to every Haitian to work for peace and overcome hatred. In response to a catastrophic situation, and the continual deterioration of security in Haiti, the Bishops’ Conference of Haiti issued a “cry of alarm” for peace on November 15th, 2024, in ...

Father Gersaín Paz, the parish priest of one of Colombia’s most dangerous neighborhoods, tells Aid to the Church in Need how faith and music have changed the lives of many children in Cali, the capital of the drug trade, keeping them away from drugs and the temptation of suicide.   “This is Colombia’s biggest misfortune. Crime has become an industry,” laments Father Gersaín Paz, parish priest of Santa Marta, Cali, during a visit to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). ...

The Amazon, known as the “lungs of the planet,” due to its rich biodiversity, is also the home of inspiring and encouraging stories. One such story is centered on an old truck in a garage in Altamira, deep in the state of Pará, Brazil, which contains evergreen memories, though surrounded by rusty old scrap. “This truck was used during the Second World War, and it came from Switzerland. But over here, it was used in another kind of war, a ...

Early on November 2nd, an explosion aimed at the police station in Guapi, southwest Colombia, killed three people and destroyed a large part of the bishop’s residence and the offices of the Apostolic Vicariate of Guapi.   The explosion left the Church buildings “practically destroyed, tearing down walls, doors, windows, and the ceilings of the curia and the bishops’ house, leaving them in ruins,” said Father Arnulfo Moreno Quiñonez, the provicar of Guapi, who expressed his grief for the loss of ...

The bishops of Venezuela recently concluded their 45th Extraordinary Plenary Assembly, during which they discussed issues of crucial importance to the country. Over three days, from October 15-17, they met to pray and reflect on the social, political, and ecclesiastical situation in Venezuela.   In a statement called “The truth shall set you free” (John 8:31), the bishops issued a call to the National Electoral Council to publish details of the results of the elections held on July 28th, as requested ...