"We are saddened by the reports of religious persecution and violence that reach us almost on a weekly basis."

As Christmas draws near, more than 84 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced. This year, Africa recorded the highest increase in IDPs, and Syria remained the country from which the greatest number of people has been forced to flee.

“I thought it was done, destroyed, how could it be restored? It took a lot of effort, and slowly, slowly, the Lord gave us the grace of giving us a new Christmas.”

"After two weeks, we found the body already decomposing. The head was hanging from a pole with the body lying next to it. Full of fear, we dug a grave while one person stood as a lookout."

Moufida recalled how the armed Islamist groups invaded their village. “They took away our livelihood, our money and our homes."

One of the most serious temptations is undoubtedly that of transforming Christianity into a set of moral guidelines, of teachings, into a purely social aid campaign.