Vatican cardinal deeply involved in ecumenical and interreligious relations appointed president of ACN

Cardinal Kurt Koch has been a friend of ACN for many years and brings with him a wealth of experience in the field of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.

The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has expressed its gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for the appointment of Cardinal Kurt Koch as its new president.

Cardinal Kurt Koch greets Peter Humeniuk, head of ACN’s Russia section, at a 2019 international ecumenical conference in Moscow. ACN

Cardinal Koch, 75, replaces Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who headed the charity for 14 years as its first President since ACN became a pontifical foundation.

Koch has been Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and President of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews since 2010. Ecumenical and inter-religious relations are an essential part of ACN’s mission, especially in countries where Christians, or Catholics, are a minority.

The cardinal has closely collaborated with ACN over the years, in particular with the Swiss and German national offices, participating in conferences and leading pilgrimages, among other activities.

Born in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1950, Koch completed his studies in Germany and in Switzerland and was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. In 1995, Pope John Paul II appointed him as Bishop of Basel and consecrated him as a bishop , Pope Benedict XVI created him a cardinal in 2010.

ACN’s executive president, Regina Lynch, commented, “We very much look forward to having Cardinal Koch as our President, and to the guidance he can bring to our mission to persecuted and suffering Christians all over the world. We are grateful to Pope Leo for this appointment and interest in our work.”

Cardinal Piacenza

The Pope’s nomination was made following the departure of Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, 81, from the post he has occupied since 2011.

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza in 2018. ACN

In his final year as president of ACN, Cardinal Piacenza had the opportunity to address thousands of the foundation’s benefactors and staff during the jubilee pilgrimage to Rome, in May, where he reminded them that “the mission of Aid to the Church in Need is precisely this: to assist Christ in His work of salvation, to help Him be known and loved, to help Christ save humanity by supporting the life of the Church, especially where she faces the greatest difficulties.”

Regina Lynch said that “in Cardinal Piacenza ACN always had a steady and trusted mentor and president. The cardinal showed keen interest in our work and guided us with his advice and assistance,” adding: “Cardinal Piacenza was always a great supporter of ACN initiatives, such as the One Million Children Praying the Rosary, and the Middle East campaigns, and we are very grateful for his service to suffering and persecuted Christians. He is, and will remain always, in our prayers.”

Aid to the Church in Need is a pontifical foundation that helps Christians in 138 countries, through over five thousand projects per year. In 2024, the charity spent 129.4 million euro on projects. The organization’s international headquarters are in Koenigstein, Germany, but it has national offices in over 20 countries around the world.