Fr Khalil Jaar, who in 2002 received the prestigious Robert PW Pierce Award for Christian Services and Reconciliation, arrived in Malta on 22 Oct for a programme of events to promote the launch of the Persecuted and Forgotten? Report. Launch of Persecuted and Forgotten?               Fr Jaar was the...

As the situation in war-torn parts of the Middle East worsens, Assyrian Christians in Iraq are faced with a stark choice — convert or die. Islamic State made clear their intention to eradicate Christians systematically from the region when they painted signs on the walls of cities they conquered proudly announcing“the caliphate is here”. As...

Brazil’s iconic landmark, the world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, was floodlit in red light From Sunday to Monday last week. The aim was to draw attention to the plight of modern Christian martyrs. This was the explanation given by the Brazilian national office of the international Catholic pastoral charity Aid...

Last Sunday, while addressing the crowds in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis indicated that his planned visit to the Central African Republic on 28-29 Nov might be cancelled if violence between Christians and Muslims in the capital Bangui escalates. Despite the presence of thousands of U.N. peacekeepers, eleven people were killed last week, including three...

Ten Christian churches demolished under Sharia law Ten Christian churches deemed illegal under Sharia law because of a lack of proper “building permits” have been demolished by the  Islamic authorities of Singkil in the Aceh province of Indonesia. The Christian community looked on helplessly as police armed with clubs and hammers destroyed the three small wooden churches,...

Sr. Yvonne Gera  celebrates 60th anniversary We would like to congratulate Sister Gera, an enthusiastic promoter of ACN Malta, who celebrated her 60th anniversary since she joined the community of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. To mark this special occasion on Saturday 31 Oct, a concelebrated mass was held in the convent chapel with the participation...

Fr Jacques Mourad managed to escape from his kidnappers a few weeks ago but thousands of others are still help captive by terrorists. Please remember them and say a special prayer every day for all those who have been abducted by terrorists, especially: Deacon Boutros and around 160 Christians thought to have been captured along...

Statement by the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova Paris, 20 October— On 16 October, the Director General of UNESCO expressed concern about escalating violence around and against cultural and religious heritage in the Middle East. Today, the Director-General expresses renewed deep concerns and, in this spirit, she has started broad consultations so as to...