With the support of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the international exhibition “The Shroud of Turin” opened its doors in the capital of Kazakhstan, marking a milestone in interreligious dialogue in Central Asia.  An exact replica of one of the most venerated objects in Christianity, the Shroud of Turin, is being displayed for the first time in Kazakhstan. The official inauguration of the international exhibition “The Shroud of Turin” took place on August 1 at ...

Bishop of Bunia: “We need support for displaced priests.”  Following the brutal attack carried out on the night of July 26-27 in the town of Komanda, in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the local Church has raised its voice in condemnation and pain. The attack, which occurred at around two in the morning at the parish of Bienheureuse Anuarite, in the territory of Irumu, in the Diocese of Bunia, resulted in the death of dozens of Christians, ...

A Catholic priest has given a harrowing account of how he nearly lost an eye after being kidnapped by armed extremists in Nigeria and held captive for 51 days.  Father Alphonsus Afina was kidnapped by Islamist terrorists Boko Haram on June 1, 2025.  He was viciously beaten, with his belongings stolen and car torched, before being held captive with other survivors in a remote mountain area. The priest was finally released on July 21, when he returned to his diocese in ...

Five years have passed since one of the most devastating moments in Lebanon’s recent history—the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020. The blast killed over 200 people, injured more than 7,000, and left entire neighborhoods in ruins. Around 300,000 people were left homeless. Yet amid the trauma and hardship, many Lebanese cling to faith, demonstrating their resilience. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) spoke to four Lebanese Christians about how their lives have changed since that day, and ...

Church leaders have denounced new violent attacks on the last all-Christian town in the West Bank.  Extremist settlers entered the Palestinian town of Taybeh, to the east of Ramallah, on July 28, torching cars and spraying hostile graffiti.  The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches put out a statement on July 29, expressing their “profound concern” over what they say are recurring incidents. They said, “Several vehicles were set ablaze, and hateful graffiti was sprayed – an unambiguous act of intimidation ...

More than 600 young people in the Holy Land have been able to experience a week of fun and freedom, thanks to the local Church and the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). This year, because of the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, the opportunity to get away from the difficulties of their daily lives was even more important.   Every year, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem organizes summer camps in Palestine and Israel for ...