According to Aid to the Church in Need, two Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria over the weekend. One was taken in a northern region, and the other in a southern state. This brings the total number of religious figures abducted in the country since January 2025 to twelve, with two deaths. The organization reports that Nigeria accounts for most global incidents this year. While some attacks stem from anti-Christian bias, many kidnappings are driven by criminal gangs seeking ransom money. Nigerian bishops have urged authorities to improve security and advised believers against taking justice into their own hands.
Iranian authorities have sentenced three Christian converts to a combined total of over 40 years in prison. The defendants received their sentences by a Revolutionary Court judge in a major city, according to a monitoring website. The charges include propaganda against the state and activities contrary to Islamic law. One defendant, who is pregnant, faces 16 years, while the others were given 15 and 10 years respectively. The group says the defendants also face fines, travel bans, and restrictions on civil rights. They were initially arrested during raids in the capital.
The Bailasan Counseling Center, the first Catholic mental health institution dedicated exclusively to Christians in the West Bank, opened in Bethlehem in June 2024. Funded by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the facility addresses trauma caused by political tensions and the Gaza war. A 2023 survey indicated that 60 percent of Palestinian Christians required psychological support. Staff members, including psychologist Albert Khader Hani and missionary Lorena Cecilia, aim to reduce stigma and provide care rooted in Christian values. The center operates near the city center, offering services to a minority community facing economic hardship and potential emigration.
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Verónica Katz from Aid to the Church in Need visited the western Dominican Republic dioceses of Barahona, San Juan de la Maguana, and Mao-Montecristi. The outlet reports that these border regions face severe economic hardship, vast distances, and a strained clergy unable to cover large territories. The Church also struggles with the Haitian migration crisis, language barriers, and rising syncretic practices. Despite these difficulties, local communities show strong faith and solidarity. ACN plans to support 2025 projects including temple construction, transportation, and catechist training to assist these vulnerable populations.
In Rumbek, South Sudan, Catholic youth walk annually between four parishes to promote peace and unity. Organized by the Diocese of Rumbek and supported by Aid to the Church in Need, the pilgrimage began after young people hoped to meet Pope Francis. Sister Orla Treacy explains that the journey breaks down tribal barriers among Dinka subclans. Participants walk distances of up to 105 kilometers, fostering dialogue and receiving hospitality from local communities. The initiative aims to heal internal tensions and build a better future for the nation by investing in young people's formation and education.
Bishops in northern Nigeria have expressed deep concern over the sudden closure of public and private schools in several states during Ramadan. According to Aid to the Church in Need, the decision affects hundreds of thousands of students, including those at Catholic schools in the region. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria issued a letter stating that the closures violate the right to education and exacerbate poverty in an area already struggling with high out-of-school rates. The bishops are urging state governors to reconsider this unprecedented measure and find alternatives that respect citizens' rights.
The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need confirmed indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Syria’s coastal areas. Sources report over 600 deaths, mostly civilians, following an ambush by Alawite militants. Christian homes were looted, and religious symbols were desecrated. Bishop Hanna Jallouf and Patriarch John X condemned the violence and called for an end to sectarian revenge. They urged President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to restore security and hold perpetrators accountable. The incident has heightened uncertainty for Christians amid the rise of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
A Catholic diocese in Nigeria confirmed that a seminarian kidnapped earlier this year was murdered by his captors. He was abducted alongside a priest who was released ten days later. This incident follows the killing of another priest in a neighboring diocese. According to ACN, Nigeria has seen a sharp rise in clerical abductions in early 2025 compared to the previous year. A bishop described the severe insecurity affecting citizens. Statistics indicate that many priests and seminarians have been kidnapped in the last decade, with several killed.
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Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is organizing more than 70 Way of the Cross prayers across numerous parishes in Spain during Lent and Holy Week. The pontifical foundation aims to unite the suffering of the persecuted Church with the Passion of Christ. Events are scheduled in regions including Andalusia, the northwest, the center, and Catalonia. Notable gatherings include a vigil in Madrid presided by Cardinal José Cobo, featuring testimonies from Mons. Arbach and P. Peter Emmanuel Odogo. Ana González, ACN's regional head for Andalusia, states these activities raise awareness and encourage volunteerism among the faithful.
In Nabaa, Lebanon, Sister Marie Akl of the Good Shepherd congregation leads a project supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to assist vulnerable young women. The initiative provides psychological care, self-defense classes, and educational support to girls exposed to domestic violence, poverty, and abuse. According to the outlet, the program helps participants rebuild self-esteem and break cycles of trauma. ACN notes that with limited government mental health services, such NGO interventions are crucial for preventing risks like crime and exploitation. The project has enabled some girls to improve their academic performance and regain personal safety.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Andrey Kukharenko on UnsplashPersecuted church
A Catholic priest in a northern Nigerian diocese was kidnapped from his home and found dead the next day. Church authorities confirmed the brutal killing, noting no motive was given. This incident highlights rising insecurity in Nigeria, where several priests and nuns have been abducted this year. Other clergy members remain missing or were recently released. In the previous year, multiple priests were kidnapped but all were freed. Christians report increasing persecution and criminal kidnappings for ransom, particularly in the north, prompting calls for improved government security measures to protect believers.
According to Aid to the Church in Need, the recent Gaza ceasefire has negatively impacted Christians in the West Bank. Father Louis Salman states that security measures have intensified, with hundreds of new checkpoints and closed roads isolating the community. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Sami El-Yousef confirm that operations in Jenin and land annexations have displaced thousands. While travel to Rome for the Jubilee is complicated by these restrictions, the Church aims to support traumatized youth. The group emphasizes that despite the worsening situation, they remain committed to serving the local population and maintaining their spiritual presence in the region.
Three years after Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has allocated more than 25.2 million euros to support the local Church. The foundation approved 977 projects, including stipends for nearly 3.5 million euros in Mass intentions. In 2024, ACN assisted 1,472 priests, 1,380 religious sisters, and 768 seminarians. Support also covers psychological care, mobile chapels, and vehicle acquisition for pastoral and humanitarian work. Bishops Maksym Ryabukha and Stanislav Szyrokoradyuk highlighted the ongoing challenges and expressed gratitude for the international solidarity that helps sustain faith amid the conflict.
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Local sources confirmed to Aid to the Church in Need that more than 70 bodies were discovered inside a Protestant church in a village in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Islamic militant group Allied Democratic Forces allegedly took hostages and forced them to march, killing those who could not keep up. Victims included women, children, and elderly people. This massacre occurs amid intensifying conflict between the ADF and the M23 rebel group, which has displaced half a million people in the region since December 2024. The situation has created severe humanitarian concerns and fear of further territorial losses for government forces.
Senior church leaders in the Central African Republic visited an aid organization to discuss the nation's fragile peace. They emphasized that interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims has helped prevent a wider religious conflict. Although violence has decreased, insecurity persists due to armed groups and geopolitical tensions. The bishops urged the international community to continue supporting the population, noting that aid is currently hindered by government policies. The Catholic Church plans to maintain its role in promoting peace and development through schools and health centers in the region.
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The body of a priest was found on the grounds of a parish in a city in Myanmar. The 44-year-old clergyman suffered multiple stab wounds. ACN President Regina Lynch expressed deep sadness over this brutal killing. The organization stands in solidarity with senior church leaders and the local Catholic community. This incident highlights the severe risks faced by clergy amid ongoing violence between opposition militias and the military in a specific region. Authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators or motives, underscoring the dangerous environment for religious figures in the area.
Egyptian Christians recently commemorated the tenth anniversary of Coptic martyrs executed in Libya. A priest stated that the group views the victims as a universal example for all Christianity. The martyrs, who refused to convert to Islam, are honored in Egypt with liturgies and pilgrimages to their shrine in a major city. The priest noted that while interfaith relations have improved since the Arab Spring, external interference still causes tension. He emphasized that the martyrs' courage strengthens the faith of believers in Egypt today.
Terrorists attacked several villages in a parish in Burkina Faso in late January, killing at least 26 people, including six Christians. The assaults, carried out by more than 200 militants near the Mali border, forced residents to flee and destroyed homes. ACN reports that a priest, a project partner, lost his father and other relatives in the violence. The foundation urges prayers for peace and reconciliation in the region, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the diocese.
Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada supported 22 Catholic radio projects in 2024 with over 550,000 euros across 19 countries. The foundation highlights the medium's role in evangelization and community unity in remote areas. In one nation, a religious prelature uses radio to connect isolated parishes with limited clergy. In another region, a local station fosters interreligious dialogue between priests and imams amid jihadist violence. ACN also noted support for stations in Ukraine and other conflict zones, emphasizing their importance for safety and information during crises.
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