IRAQ – Seminarian who once saved the Eucharist from IS returns as a priest Martin Baani was just 24 years old when he risked his life as a seminarian to rescue the Blessed Sacrament from the imminent invasion of Islamic State terrorists in his hometown.Now, he is returning to his native village as a priest,...
SYRIA – “Rowing Against the Current in Damascus” Maronite Archbishop Samir Nassar Describes the Suffering of Syrians In November 2016, Pope Francis made the unusual move of elevating Archbishop Mario Zenari, papal nuncio in Syria, to the College of Cardinals. With this appointment, the Pope acknowledged and honoured Cardinal Zenari’s commitment to remain in his...
IRAQ – Eyewitness report from Monsignor Petros Mouche, Archbishop of Mosul Now that Mosul has been liberated, will the Christians be able to return to their homes soon? According to Mgr. Petros Mouche, Syriac Catholic archbishop of the second largest city in Iraq, it is too early for this, but he emphasised the importance of...
We weep for our abandoned children! Jürgen Liminski interviews Mons. Cyr-Nestor YAPAUPA, Bishop of the Diocese of Alindao in the Central African Republic, for Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN) about the new clashes between factions of the Seleka and the Anti-balaka still present in the region. The violence erupted on 8...
HAITI – Without the Church, many villages have no hope Marco Mencaglia, the head of the Haitian section of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need, travelled to the country on a visit. His goal: to take stock of the aid the charity has granted over the last few years and to...
FRANCE – Monument to be unveiled in memory of martyr Fr Hamel A year after French priest Jacques Hamel was murdered, he is to be remembered at a Mass in the church of Saint Stephen in Sainte-Etienne-du-Rouvray, on the outskirts of the city of Rouen, some 80 kilometres north-west of Paris. The Archbishop of Rouen, Monsignor Dominique...
Minkejja l-persekuzzjoni, l-Insara joktru dejjem Lil dawk li jaghzluh bhala mexxej u mghallem taghhom, Kristu kien habbrilhom car u tond li ma kienx se jhallilhom hajja ward u zahar imma persekuzzjoni u salib (Mt 19, 27 ) ghax l-ilsir mhuwiex aqwa minn sidu. Immedjament wara t-Tlugh is-Sema tal-Mulej, beda jberraq ghall-Appostli. Fl-Atti ta’ l-Appostli...
“We have lost an advocate on Earth, but gained one in Heaven” The Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is deeply touched by the death of Joachim Cardinal Meisner. ACN mourns a highly valued friend. The retired Archbishop of Cologne died unexpectedly on 5 July at the age of 83 years,...
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Catholic Church targeted for trying to restore peace Cardinal Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has told the pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need that he thought the Church was being targeted “in order to sabotage her mission of peace and reconciliation.” Dozens...
UKRAINE Papal envoy brings message of peace and prosperity Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches said “I have come with a message and good wishes of peace and prosperity for this country,” when he visited Ukraine as papal envoy last week. Cardinal Sandri arrived in Kiev on July 11...
