“We have no means to rebuild the country. We ask for help” Aid to the Church in Need visited the places most severely affected by the earthquake in order to plan various aid projects Canoa In the small Ecuadorian village of Canoa hardly any houses were left standing by the earthquake on 16...
“Stop fanning the flames of religious discord” – Cardinal and bishop appeal for peace and unity “There is a terrible wind blowing around our country right now. There are so many people who are fanning the flames of discord and of hatred and it is becoming very difficult to preach unity and mutual natural...
PAKISTAN – Christian girls being abducted and forced to marry Muslims Sarwar Masih is a Pakistani Christian whose 23 year old daughter, Laveeza Bibi, has been abducted. Two armed Muslims forced their way into the family home of Sarwar Masih in the district of Kasur, in Punjab, threatened her parents and took the girl away....
SYRIA – Europe needs to be better informed – Bishop Khazen dispels some myths Bishop Georges Abou Khazen OFM of Aleppo explains what the situation in his country is in reality and points out that the views held by Europeans are wrong. He believes foreigners are misinformed and that “Europe should not draw false conclusions”....
MIDDLE EAST – Pope criticises West for trying to export “own brand of democracy” Pope Francis criticised leaders of Western countries for trying to export their “own brand of democracy” to Middle East countries such as Iraq and Libya without respecting indigenous political cultures. Francis has frequently attacked what he calls “cultural colonialism”, in which...
Cairo’s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar meets the Pope at the Vatican The Holy See Press Office released a statement saying the meeting between Francis and the Imam of Al-Azhar, considered to be the most authoritative theological-academic institution of Sunni Islam, lasted about 30 minutes and their discussions were “very cordial.” Fr. Lombardi, the Holy...
ISRAEL – Patriarch Twal joins celebrations at pastoral centre for migrants The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, joined in the celebrations at the “Our Lady Woman of Valor” pastoral centre for migrants in the south of Tel Aviv. Hundreds of migrants who came from various communities served by the Pastoral Center- Filipinos,...
Christians concerned about Muslim illegal gambling premises and alcohol shops Hundreds of Iraqi Christians have been organising protests in Ankawa against an alarming new phenomenon that is making everyday life even more depressing in the city suburbs where they now live. Protesters handed over a petition to a representative of the governor of Erbil...
Archbishop Warda urges Europeans to speak out against genocide and praises ACN Speaking at a Conference held in Evora, Portugal, Bishop Warda praised the humanitarian work done by the Catholic Church in the Middle East. He highlighted ACN as one of the organizations that was able to get the “necessary goods” to the neediest...
Pakistani bishops want content inciting hatred of minorities removed from textbooks Catholic bishops in Pakistan have called on education authorities to “remove as soon as possible content related to prejudice and hatred against religious minorities from school textbooks”. The “Justice and Peace” Commission of the Pakistani bishops has recently issued a document entitled “Combating...
