NIGERIA – Priest kidnapped by Fulani describes his ordeal Fr. Sam Okwuidegbe, a Nigerian Jesuit priest and director of a local spirituality center, was looking forward to a quiet retreat weekend last April Before he set off, his new provincial, Fr. Chuks Afiawari, joked “Make sure where you are going they don’t kidnap you.”...
SYRIA – Christians are returning to Aleppo Franciscan Father Ibrahim Alsabagh says that 15 families of the Latin rite Catholic community have already returned to the Syrian city of Aleppo and that many others are hoping to return, reports Josue Villalón. During a recent visit to the war-torn and widely devastated city of Aleppo in Syria,...
IRAQ – “We want to rebuild our convent and return home “ On the plains of Nineveh, in Iraq, there are 363 church buildings or other Church properties that were damaged or destroyed by Islamic State and now need to be rebuilt. Dominican Sisters Luma Khuder and Nazek Matty, are both saying now “We hope...
CHINA – Church destroyed and Christians detained in Henan province China Aid, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting religious freedom and human rights for Christians in China, reported that local authorities in Henan province destroyed a Christian church last month. 300 police officers and inspectors turned up for the demolition of Shuangmiao Christian Church...
CAMEROON – Bishops ask state to protect clergy after bishop’s murder Following autopsy results which revealed that a missing archbishop had been murdered a few weeks ago, the bishops of Cameroon have called on the government to “assume its noble task of protecting human life, and notably that of ecclesiastical authorities.” The bishops noted that...
Pope Francis donates $500000 for aid projects in South Sudan Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development presented “The Pope for South Sudan” initiative at a press conference. Other speakers were Dr. Michel Roy, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis; Sr. Laura Gemignani, Nzara General Hospital, South Sudan; Sr. Yudith Pereira-Rico,...
NEPAL – “You return home humble and pensive” Johannes Heereman von Zuydtwyck, executive president of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), and Véronique Vogel, head of the Asia section, have returned from a project trip to Nepal. In an interview with Maria Lozano, they talk about shamans, healings and the...
“Life is very hard. We cannot go on like this” – Interview with Fr Hilal from Aleppo Fr Ziad Hilal first visited Malta last autumn when the fighting in Aleppo was at its peak. On his latest visit he spoke to Geraldine Griffiths from Aid to the Church in Need, Malta about the current situation...
PHILIPPINES – Muslims sheltered Christians during Marawi siege Farida, a Muslim store owner in Marawi City, had no choice but to let the terrorists that barged in her store last May 24 plunder her goods and products. But when the armed men turned their attention to her 13 male employees huddled in a corner of...
VENEZUELA – Attacks against the Church escalate Venezuelan bishops have openly criticised President Maduro’s “repressive nature through the suffocation of legitimate protest with excessive and inhuman violence.” Citing the government’s “repressive nature through the suffocation of legitimate protest with excessive and inhuman violence,” the bishops said that they cannot ignore “the sadness and suffering that...
