In only a decade, Burkina Faso has become an epicenter of terrorist violence, with over 40 percent of the country’s land outside of government control. And in this situation, the Catholic Church provides material and spiritual support. Two Burkinabe priests from a diocese hard hit by extremists shared their experiences with ACN.   “The situation is dire,” said Father Bertin Namboho and Father Jean-Pierre Keita, the bursar of the Diocese of Nouna and parish priest of the village of Tansila, respectively. ...

Priests from Burkina Faso testify to the suffering in their communities after the massacre of hundreds.  Extremist groups controlling about 40 percent of Burkina Faso are now as dangerous as Boko Haram was in Nigeria, according to Father Bertin Namboho, bursar of the Nouna Diocese in western Burkina Faso.  Speaking with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Father Namboho said that people in the diocese “live in constant terror.”  Since May, terrorists have killed up to 240 ...

Two families with young children battled heavy rain and wind during their ascent to the top of the highest mountain in the British Isles, in order to raise funds for a charity helping suffering Christians. Eight members of the Do Rozario and Pampackal families – including a seven-year-old – have raised more than $2,000 as of Thursday, September 5th, by climbing the 4,413-foot summit in temperatures just three degrees above freezing. Their daring climb was part of Catholic charity Aid ...

After receiving a report from Aid to the Church in Need, Pope Francis expressed his great concern about violations of religious freedom in countries around the world. The pontiff described Aid to the Church in Need’s Religious Freedom in the World report as “very important” and pledged to continue praying for all those persecuted for their faith. ACN’s report found that religious persecution had increased between 2021 and 2023, with religious liberty being violated in 61 countries. Marcela Szymanski, Head of International ...

Islamic terrorists killed 26 people in a church, many of them Christian.  Local sources have told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about a recent terrorist attack in Burkina Faso. The incident took place in the village of Sanaba, in the Diocese of Nouna, on August 25th, when a large group of insurgents surrounded the community and took all men over the age of 12 who were Christian, followers of traditional religions, or people they considered opponents of Jihadist ...

Bishop António Juliasse of Pemba, in northern Mozambique, visited communities that were attacked by Islamic terrorists and thanked ACN for its support of the country’s Church. Mozambique has suffered under insurgents since 2017. “As pastor of the diocese, I feel great pain for not being able to visit all the Christians, due to a lack of security,” said the Bishop of Pemba. “But when local Christian leaders told me that it was possible to reach some regions, I departed immediately. ...