SYRIA Aleppo’s wounds are healing Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has granted 250,000 euro to St. Louis Hospital to improve its medical care. A picture on the wall depicts the word “peace” – pieced together using bullet casings picked up off the streets. St. Louis Hospital, which is run by the religious...
COLOMBIA Pope Francis visits at a crucial moment for the country In the words of the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Ettore Balestrero peace, reconciliation and social justice will be important themes during the Holy Father’s visit to Colombia. “It is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Colombia. Everything is open....
SYRIA ACN unveils 30 aid projects to help families After six years of devastating civil war in Syria, leading Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has announced 32 projects to support thousands of suffering Christian families. Almost two-thirds of families in Aleppo are surviving on less than £1.60 a day –...
BURKINA FASO ACN reaches out to the poor regardless of religion In the aftermath of last month’s Islamist attack on restaurant goers in Burkina Faso, the Church is renewing its commitment to poor people –, especially young girls – at a time of growing extremist influence in the country. Raphael D’Aqui, from Aid to...
PHILIPPINES Maraw – Desecrated Catholic Cathedral retaken After more than three months, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has finally cleared and retaken the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi City. The Cathedral was desecrated and destroyed by IS-inspired terrorists last 23 May 2017. The Philippine Armed Forces had to empty the church of...
MALI “To secure peace we must start with our own family” According to the “Report on Religious Freedom in the World”, published by the international Catholic Charity ACN (AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED), Mali descended into chaos in March 2013 following a military coup. As Islamist jihadis and rebel groups threatened to overrun...
SPAIN Barcelona church shelters 800 people after terrorist attack More than 800 people found shelter in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi as they fled from the horror and chaos of the 17 Aug terrorist attack in the historic center of Barcelona. The church is close to Las Ramblas, the popular tourist area...
ZIMBABWE Irish friar posthumously awarded country’s highest honour An Irish Franciscan friar has been posthumously awarded the highest honour the Zimbabwean government can bestow on a foreigner, The Royal Order of Munhumutapa. Only six others have received the Order of Munhumutapa, five of them native statesmen who led their African nations to independence.Fr Paschal...
SOMALILAND Only Catholic church forced to close Just one week after being officially reopened, the only Catholic Church in Somaliland has been forced to close again due to “public pressure”, A ceremony attended by expatriates and ministers on 29 July marked the reopening of the restored Catholic church of St Anthony of Padua, which...
VENEZUELA Bishop calls for arms embargo Bishop Mario Moronta of San Cristóbal appealed to the international community not to let Venezuela down. “May the solidarity not diminish! I appeal in particular to the European countries and the US, which are now thinking about sanctions – I believe one of the first sanctions they should...
