IRAQ – Christian church destroyed by IS rebuilt by Muslim residents   A church in a district once terrorised by Islamic State has been restored with the help of Muslim neighbours. During the IS occupation the Chaldean church, which is an Iraqi church in full communion with the Pope in Rome, was damaged by terrorists. It was left...

EGYPT – Proposed law to ban Western names targets Christians   Egypt’s parliament is currently debating a ban on Western names in a move that appears to target the Christian population. If the proposed bill is passed, Egyptian parents who give their newborn children Western names will face a fine of up to LE5,000 ($280) and...

CROATIA – Construction work progresses on one of the largest Marian sites worldwide   A giant 55-foot statue of Our Lady of Loreto currently under construction in Croatia, will be one of the largest Marian sites in the world when it is completed. The enormous statue of Our Lady is sited along the coastline near the city...

LITHUANIA – First Soviet-era martyr to be beatified   Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis, a Soviet-era Lithuanian priest and bishop who continually defied Communist rule and spent much of his ministry in prison, will be beatified later this month in the country’s capital, Vilnius. Archbishop Matulionis was known throughout his life for his heroism and strong faith despite...

VENEZUELA  – Bishops meet with Pope to discuss the crisis Letter from the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela to Pope Francis after the audience   The Presidential Council of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela requested an emergency meeting with the Pope to talk about the grave situation the country is experiencing. Pope Francis received the leaders of...

IRAQ – “Many Christians hope to return to their homes”   Christian IDPs in Erbil, Kurdish Iraq continue depend to depend on aid as they are awaiting the opportunity to return to their home on the Nineveh plains. They have been cared for by by the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil—under the leadership of Archbishop Bashar Matti...

World’s oldest nun dies at 110 years   Sister  Candida Bellotti, thought to be the oldest nun in the world who, died recently on 3 June aged 110. Earlier this year, Pope Francis had sent Sister Bellotti a special greeting when she celebrated her 110th birthday on 20 Feb. Pope Francis’ message said “To the...

PHILIPPINES – “Marawi is all ruined, there is destruction everywhere”   Interview by Jonathan Luciano, ACN Philippines National Director, with Bishop Prelate of Marawi Edwin dela Peña (MSP) about the situation in the Prelature of Marawi in the Southern Philippines, where the terrorist Maute group attacked the city, killing Christians and burning down buildings including...

CAMEROON – Autopsy raises suspicions about African bishop’s death   An autopsy has revealed “signs of torture” on the body of Bishop Jean-Marie Benoît Balla of Bafia whose body was found in a river last week. Unusual circumstances surrounded the death of the Cameroonian bishop, leading some to think he had committed suicide. Bishop Balla, who...