The Voice of the suffering and persecuted
‘No peace without religious freedom,’ says Pope
“Along with the lack of religious freedom, there is also persecution for religious reasons. I cannot fail to mention, as certain statistics have shown, that one out of every seven Christians experiences persecution.”
Mozambique: terrorists attack Christian villages
Due to the inability of the Mozambican Armed Forces to patrol the entire region threatened by the insurgents, many local populations have formed their own defense groups, often composed of veterans of Mozambique’s decades-long civil war.
ACN’s last visit with Pope Benedict XVI
“Although physically weak, his mind was clear, and his charisma reflected holiness.”
Terrorists kill a priest in Burkina Faso
The priest’s funeral took place Jan.5, in the Cathedral of Saint Anne in Dédougou, capital of Boucle du Mouhoun. “Through the infinite mercy of God, may his servant Father Jacques Yaro Zerbo rest in peace,” the bishop wrote.
More than 100 priests and women religious kidnapped, arrested or killed in 2022
According to information collected by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Nigeria was the country with the highest number of victims, with four priests killed. Others who were murdered while carrying out their pastoral duties include three priests brutally killed in Mexico.
ACN grieves for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
“The teaching of Pope Benedict, who dedicated his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est to the subject of charity, has been very valuable to ACN.”
Senegal: 40 years of conflict in the Casamance region
Senegal is known for being one of western Africa’s most politically stable countries. However, there is an open conflict between the Senegalese military and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MDFC) in the country’s southern Casamance region, which began 40 years ago.
In Benin, spread of jihadism is restricting the work of the Church
Because of the danger of terrorism, the Church in norther Benin is restricted in the exercise of its pastoral work, ACN reports.
Lebanon: Catholic schools are in ‘survival mode’
“I am married, I have three kids. If I am only a teacher, nowadays, I cannot give them what they need. I need to juggle more jobs to provide for them. This takes time from me, so I cannot prepare my classes as much as I used to.”
Syria: ‘May the Lord forgive them, that is all I can say’
One of the school’s students, 15-year-old Christine, was returning home from school with a classmate when a bomb detonated near them. Christine lost a foot, but her friend was killed.