Devotion to the Catholic Church is a distinguishing feature of East Timorese culture. Pope Francis will be the second Pope to visit the country and the first since independence.  East Timor is one of the world’s youngest countries, having obtained independence in 2002. It is also the Asian country with the highest proportion of Catholics, at close to 99 percent of the population, and one of only two majority Catholic countries in Asia, alongside the Philippines.  Speaking to Aid to ...

Throughout his journey, Father Landry will carry a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament, presenting and proclaiming the Lord to fellow pilgrims and the many people he meets in parishes and chapels along the way.

The Maronite Archbishop of Tyre, Monsignor Charbel Abdallah, whose archdiocese is one of the oldest in the world, told ACN that despite “finding ourselves in a state of war,” most people who had fled to Beirut or further north have now returned because they were short of money, and their relatives did not have the capacity to accommodate so many people. In the ten parishes near the Israeli border, which make up almost the entirety of the archdiocese, 70 percent ...

The tragedy that struck the Masih family has far-reaching consequences, disrupting the lives of many in Mujahid Colony. Families are displaced; businesses have closed; and jobs have been lost, creating a ripple effect of hardship and despair.

In this message, which was sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the bishop denounces the killings “of a peaceful population, left without defense and without security,” the abduction of persons “without a single trace,” and the rape of girls and women.

The NJCP, a long-time project partner of ACN, also provided recommendations to the Pakistani authorities, aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future, improving law enforcement protocols, and fostering interfaith dialogue.