The Voice of the suffering in Middle East

ACN dedicates its Lent campaign to the persecuted Church. The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is launching a new campaign at the beginning of Lent. “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 that despite the persecution they suffer, today’s martyrs continue to be examples of consolation, faith, and ...

The situation for Christians in Syria varies from city to city, according to local sources, and Christians have greeted with cautious optimism the transitional government’s guarantees to respect religious freedom.  Christian leaders in Syria have expressed their willingness to work with the provisional government, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, to build a new country based on equal rights.   According to local sources contacted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Christians are committed to playing a ...

Due to massive destruction in the Bekaa Valley and in southern Lebanon, ACN’s emergency relief projects are very significant for the country.  “With the appointment of a new president, hope returned to Lebanon,” reports Marielle Boutros, project coordinator for the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Lebanon. “The war was hell for us. Every Christian here has thought about leaving the country. Many people are still struggling with great difficulties, and the situation is anything ...

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 29th, 2024 in Kot Saadullah, Rahawali, Gujranwala, and succumbed to his injuries on January 1st, 2025.  According to information provided to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) by the Pakistani priest, Father Lazar Aslam, OFM, Suleman Masih was a very hardworking and ...

King Charles III appeared at a special Advent service on Tuesday, December 17th, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Mayfair, London. The service was co-hosted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The service celebrated the courage and perseverance of Christian communities and reflected on the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq by Daesh (ISIS). As part of the proceedings, the King was introduced to representatives of the London-based ...

More than one year since the start of the war, Pope Francis continues to call the Catholic parish in Gaza every day and has become a grandfather figure to its children, says Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.  The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem continues to give as much support as it can to the small Christian community in Gaza, as well as to Muslim families living close to the Catholic and Orthodox compounds in the territory.   During a press conference held by pontifical ...