Missionary Maddalena Boschetti describes the Church's steadfast presence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, despite escalating gang violence and the arrival of Salvadoran troops. Following the disappearance of four Salvadoran military technicians, President Nayib Bukele ordered a significant military reinforcement. Boschetti highlights efforts to protect vulnerable youth at a shelter near Croix-des-Bouquets, noting that many residents cannot flee due to fear of losing their homes to armed groups. The UN reports severe humanitarian crises, including mass displacement and food insecurity. Religious communities remain committed to supporting locals amidst political paralysis and ongoing instability.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Kayla Gibson on UnsplashPersecuted church
Between August 23 and 24, a gang known as Viv Ansam attacked a church in Kenscoff, Haiti, killing at least 47 people and kidnapping more than 50. The group targeted the Arca del Nuevo Testamento evangelical church, where displaced families were seeking refuge. Church officials reported that at least 22 executions occurred inside the temple. Haitian authorities condemned the attack, promising to respond with legal force. The UN notes that rival gangs are displacing thousands in the capital. Amnesty International urged increased protection for citizens against escalating criminal violence.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Alex Polinis on UnsplashPersecuted church
At least 47 people were killed by armed gangs in Kenscoff, Haiti, between August 23 and 24. The attackers targeted an evangelical church sheltering displaced residents near Port-au-Prince. Bishop Pierre-André Dumas condemned the violence and urged Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to implement a national emergency plan. The incident highlights the severe insecurity in Haiti, where gangs control large areas and have displaced nearly 1.4 million people. The Catholic Church has also faced significant attacks, with many parishes and schools forced to close due to gang violence and intimidation.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Aaron Burden on UnsplashPersecuted church
Monseñor Joseph Gontrand Decoste, bishop of Jeremie in Haiti, describes the Catholic Church as the final moral and spiritual barrier against escalating gang violence. With armed groups controlling up to 90% of Port-au-Prince and key departments, the Church faces severe threats, including the closure of dozens of parishes and attacks on clergy. Recent incidents include the murder of two nuns in Mirebalais and the kidnapping of priests. Despite these dangers, the Church continues to provide aid, education, and spiritual support to displaced populations, relying on organizations like Aid to the Church in Need for sustenance and protection.
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Molis Augustave, a Haitian pastor and immigrant rights organizer from Pennsylvania, wrote a letter from an ICE detention center in the US. After being stopped for a broken headlight, he was detained and nearly deported to Haiti. Although he was removed from a deportation flight, 89 others were sent. Augustave describes leading Bible studies and supporting fellow detainees. He was eventually deported to Haiti on September 24. The article highlights the human cost of immigration detention and the dignity of those whose stories remain unknown. The Department of Homeland Security did not comment. (RNS)
In Haiti, gang violence has displaced thousands of residents, with attacks targeting Christian communities causing significant casualties and kidnappings. Similarly, in Sudan, armed groups have attacked religious sites in the Nuba Mountains, resulting in deaths and looting of church property. These incidents highlight the severe persecution faced by Christians in these regions. Meanwhile, an Iranian Christian convert, who was deported from the United States, has been granted asylum in Canada following advocacy by international human rights groups. This case underscores the ongoing dangers for converts in Iran and the international efforts to protect them.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote to President Donald Trump on September 8 urging an end to mass deportations of Haitian immigrants. Coakley cited recent violence in Haiti, including a massacre in Kenscoff, as evidence that returning individuals endangers innocent lives. The letter marks a direct appeal from the bishops' conference, which previously issued a general statement against indiscriminate deportations. With approximately 350,000 Haitians vulnerable after the revocation of temporary protected status in late July, Coakley argued that stopping these removals serves moral responsibility and supports family well-being in the United States.
Bishop Pierre-André Dumas of Anse-à-Veau-Miragoâne in Haiti has expressed deep concern regarding the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants in the United States. The US Supreme Court and a federal court in Washington, D.C., recently upheld the cancellation, affecting approximately 331,000 beneficiaries. According to Vatican News, the US Department of Homeland Security argued that ending TPS aligns with national interest, despite ongoing crises in Haiti. The decision increases deportation risks, with reports indicating a surge in repatriation flights. An immigrant named Emma described the fear within her community, noting that families now face the threat of separation and detention by ICE agents, creating significant anxiety for children left behind.
Pope Leo XIV denounced a severe gang massacre in Kenscoff, Haiti, which occurred between August 23 and 24. The pontiff, speaking from Castel Gandolfo, Italy, expressed solidarity with victims and demanded the immediate release of hostages. The attack resulted in approximately 50 deaths, including five children, and numerous abductions. The United Nations has requested a rapid deployment of security agents for the international mission combating gangs in the region. Meanwhile, 13 of the 60 hostages, including three infants, were released after nearly a week in captivity. Violence in Haiti has already caused over 1,400 deaths in the second quarter of the year.
Amnesty International has condemned a deadly armed gang attack in Kenscoff, Haiti, on the night of August 23–24. The United Nations reports at least 47 people were killed and 22 injured, with dozens abducted. Victims included displaced persons seeking refuge in a church. Astrid Valencia, Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director for the Americas, urged Haitian authorities and the international community to prioritize population protection and ensure fair trials for those responsible. The group emphasized that security operations must comply with human rights and called for the immediate release of abductees to break the cycle of violence and impunity in the region.
World Vision has published a report outlining 13 major humanitarian crises that affected millions of people in 2026. The organization highlights severe emergencies in various nations, including Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. Specific events include a significant earthquake in Colombia and an Ebola outbreak in the DRC. The outlet states that these disasters have disrupted education, health services, and livelihoods for children and families. World Vision reports providing aid to tens of millions of people through health, nutrition, and protection programs in response to these ongoing emergencies.
Eva DeHart, co-founder of For Haiti With Love, died on September 23 at age 87 in Haiti. Her daughter, Roseline DeHart, now leads the organization established in 1970 with Eva’s late husband, Don. The group provides food, shelter, and medical aid to Haitians amid ongoing gang violence and instability. Roseline continues her parents' mission, emphasizing that aid is given freely based on Christian faith. A celebration of life is scheduled for November 14. The family requests donations to For Haiti With Love to build a home in Eva’s honor, ensuring the ministry persists despite dangerous conditions driving other missionaries away.
A senior leader of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank published an open letter in The Catholic Register to mark World Food Day. He highlighted that 1,538 days remain until the 2030 deadline for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to eliminate global hunger. While noting modest progress and recent assistance reaching over 1.1 million people, the leader warned that 520 million individuals could still face food insecurity by the target date. The letter urges wealthy nations to increase development funding rather than cut it, citing Brazil’s successful anti-hunger initiatives as a model for political prioritization and sustained investment. The organization represents 15 Canadian church agencies.
In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the Maison des Vieillards, supported by the PIME Foundation, offers shelter and care to vulnerable elderly people amidst severe gang violence. Missionary Maurizio Barcaro describes the center as a safe haven in a capital largely controlled by criminal groups. The facility also runs a school providing free education to approximately 3,700 children from poor neighborhoods. According to UN data, nearly 6,000 people have been killed or injured in the first nine months of 2026, with 1.5 million displaced. Barcaro notes that the multinational mission against gangs has not resolved the crisis, leaving many young Haitians to flee or join criminal groups.
Pope Leo XIV urged the immediate release of hostages following a massacre in a Haitian town during his Sunday Angelus address. He also addressed devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet, where over 700 people have died and thousands remain missing. The Vatican announced financial assistance sent to Caritas Nepal to support urgent relief efforts, including food and shelter. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin signed a telegram expressing sorrow for the loss of life. The Pope further encouraged prayers for peace and highlighted the upcoming World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
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