Plagued by gangs that plunder, kidnap, and terrorize, Haiti fights for its survival every day. In the midst of this violence, the Church remains a beacon of hope for the country, says Father Baudelarie Martial, a Haitian priest from the Congregation of the Holy Cross, who visited ACN’s international headquarters.  Gangs control about 80 percent of the capital and the main roads. What is the situation in Port-au-Prince in terms of security?  The situation in Port-au-Prince is unacceptable, intolerable, and ...

Bishop Tesfaselassie Medhin tells the international pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need about the human rights violations that occurred from 2020 to 2022, during the devastating war in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray, and particularly the sexual violence against women and girls. Parts of his diocese are still occupied, and many roads are insecure. In the accessible regions. the diocese is carrying out trauma-healing projects to help the many thousands of people whose lives are broken.  “During ...

In a joint statement, the Venezuelan Bishops Conference highlights the crucial role of the people in the elections scheduled for July 28th.  Venezuela is preparing for presidential elections in 2024 and legislative elections in 2025, both occurring in a complex political climate. As the vote on July 28th approaches, the Venezuelan bishops wished to “share some reflections about this political act, the deepening of democracy, and the people’s participation in the election.”  “The Venezuelan people have before them a new ...

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, met with a delegation from Aid to the Church in Need on Wednesday, July 17th, and expressed his gratitude for the help received by the Holy Land. The situation in the Holy Land remains drastic, with no prospects of improvement in the short term. In this context, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has called on Christians to take a break from political discussions and pray together.  The Patriarch spoke to a delegation ...

The Catholic Church in Belarus is highly involved in pastoral work with children and young people. Every week, hundreds of children attend catechesis, and every year, many children receive their first Holy Communion. During the Soviet period, the practice of religion was severely restricted, but thanks to the faith that was passed on by grandparents, the Church still has deep roots.  Children’s Festival Day is a special event for the Catholic Church in Belarus and takes place with the support ...

His Beatitude Ibrahim Sidrak, the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, heads the small Coptic Catholic Church, which has about 300,000 members. In an interview with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), he shared his thoughts about his country, which has become a refuge for many Christians.   How do you explain that, unlike in many other Near East countries, we have not seen a mass migration of Christians from Egypt?  Historically, we have a large Christian community ...