A Catholic radio director in a city in Burkina Faso invites a Muslim leader to monthly programs. This initiative aims to foster interreligious dialogue and counter violence caused by jihadist groups that have displaced millions. The priest seeks to strengthen relationships between different faiths to promote peace and mutual understanding. The Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need continues to fund these efforts to support the local Church's mission amid the ongoing crisis, helping believers navigate the dangerous environment while building bridges across communities.
Cyclone Chido caused widespread destruction in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado region, killing dozens and displacing thousands. A bishop reported that nearly 50 churches and numerous schools lost their roofs or were destroyed. The storm also devastated camps for people fleeing terrorism. Bishops in other cities confirmed similar devastation, with homes and infrastructure ruined. Aid organizations note that communications are limited, hindering relief efforts. The disaster strikes a region already weakened by insurgency, leaving families without food or shelter as they face an uncertain future.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Burkina Faso has seen an increase in priestly vocations despite severe security challenges. A senior church leader reports that student enrollment rose significantly in recent years. Many seminarians come from high-risk zones where clergy are frequent targets. The seminary is overcrowded, forcing some students to relocate to neighboring countries. Aid organizations support these dioceses financially, as families often cannot provide due to displacement or conflict. The leader emphasizes the need for authentic faith formation and interreligious harmony amid rising tensions between Muslims and Christians.
It has been one year since armed groups attacked Christian communities in a region of northern Nigeria during Christmas 2023. The coordinated assault on over 20 villages killed at least 300 people and destroyed homes and clinics. A local church leader stated the violence targeted Christians specifically. Despite these atrocities, the government has not taken legal measures to protect victims or ensure justice. Reports indicate that religious freedom remains severely threatened by extremist groups and discriminatory laws. The outlet highlights the ongoing lack of security and accountability for the victims in this area.
In Burkina Faso, approximately 1,300 schools have closed due to terrorism and extreme poverty. The local Catholic Church is implementing education projects for displaced children in various regions, including northern areas and central dioceses. These initiatives aim to protect youth from jihadist recruitment by providing schooling based on forgiveness and hope. According to the outlet, ACN, this education helps foster interreligious dialogue and offers a future for families who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Aid to the Church in Need supports these efforts to ensure proper formation for Burkinabé children.
Ukrainian church leaders sent Christmas messages to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), thanking the organization for material and spiritual support during three years of war. Apostolic Nuncio Visvaldas Kulbokas, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shvchuk, and Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki highlighted the ongoing need for humanitarian aid in regions like Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa, where residents lack essentials like heat and electricity. They also emphasized the rising psychological trauma affecting civilians, clergy, and soldiers, as well as the importance of youth formation near Lviv. The leaders requested continued prayers for an end to the conflict and for the spiritual strength to maintain joy and faith during the holiday season.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, announced that the Catholic Church in Gaza is preparing special Christmas support for local children. Despite ongoing conflict, the community inside the Holy Family Parish will celebrate the holiday together. The Patriarch stated that aid includes food and toys to bring joy to families who have missed school for two years. Pope Francis maintains daily phone contact with the children, who view him as a grandfather. The Latin Patriarchate, supported by Aid to the Church in Need, is distributing humanitarian supplies to thousands of families in Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing that faith requires tangible acts of love.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Burkina Faso faces a severe displacement crisis with two million internally displaced persons, according to ACNUR. Violence and jihadist attacks have destroyed livelihoods, causing food shortages and poverty. The local Church is providing food and medicine to help survivors. A displaced mother and father from a village in northern Burkina Faso share stories of loss. A coordinator in a nearby settlement says the goal is restoring hope and dignity. ACN supports these efforts to alleviate suffering. The Church continues its work despite extreme violence affecting the region.
Christians in Burkina Faso are calling for assistance to support thousands of displaced persons fleeing jihadist violence. The article highlights the experience of a priest, whose colleague was killed in a village in 2019. Since 2015, the Sahel region has faced severe instability, with armed groups controlling over 40% of the country. Approximately two million people have been internally displaced, and thousands have died. The Church is providing humanitarian and spiritual aid to victims regardless of their faith. The outlet urges readers to support clergy and laity who continue their mission despite the extreme danger and persecution they face in the nation.
A senior Armenian Catholic archbishop in the Syrian capital reported that the situation remains calm following the fall of the regime. After rebels captured several major cities, religious leaders coordinated preventive measures and held prayers for peace. The bishop visited a key building now serving as the seat of the new political and military authorities. Representatives assured him that Christians would be protected and their presence in the country secured. The Aid to the Church in Need foundation pledged to continue emergency and spiritual support for vulnerable Christian communities during this transition period. (Source: Aid to the Church in Need)
ACN reaffirms its commitment to supporting vulnerable Christian communities in Syria following recent political changes. The organization's executive president stated that while religious minorities have been largely respected during the transition, past instability highlights the need for continued vigilance. ACN is calling on the international community and new Syrian authorities to guarantee fundamental rights, including freedom of worship and education. The Catholic foundation confirmed that its staff and project partners remain safe and unharmed. ACN plans to continue providing emergency aid, educational support, and spiritual assistance to the most vulnerable Christians while promoting reconciliation and hope in the region.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
The Catholic Church beatified two Albanian priests, Luigi Paliq and Gjon Gazulli, during a ceremony in Shkodra on November 16, 2024. Magda Kaczmarek of Aid to the Church in Need stated their forgiveness under persecution serves as a model of holiness. Paliq was executed by Montenegrin occupiers during World War I for defending religious freedom, while Gazulli was hanged in 1927 under President Ahmet Zogu’s regime. Archbishop Arjan Dodaj thanked the foundation for its support in Albania, noting the martyrs inspire local youth. The event highlights the resilience of the Albanian Church after years of oppression.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
A priest in Burkina Faso describes the severe challenges faced by Christians due to jihadist violence. The Catholic Church in the country has suffered numerous attacks, resulting in hundreds of deaths and displacements. The priest personally experienced this when terrorists attacked his parish in a village in northern Burkina Faso in 2019, killing the vicar and five other men. He states that while the situation is humanly difficult, faith is strengthening. The Pontifical Aid to the Church in Need is supporting his campaign to aid persecuted clergy and displaced people. The priest emphasizes that coexistence among different religions remains strong despite extremist ideas.
The Haitian Episcopal Conference issued an urgent warning on November 15 regarding the country's imminent collapse due to unchecked gang violence. Archbishop Max Leroys Mésidor stated that Puerto Príncipe is surrounded by armed groups, forcing schools to close and the Toussaint Louverture International Airport to shut down. According to the bishops, this isolation stems from attacks on aircraft, including a November 11 incident. The United Nations reports that over 20,000 residents have fled their homes recently. The church urges the government and civil society to take decisive action to restore security and protect citizens from the ongoing crisis.
Islamist rebels have seized a major city in Syria, displacing tens of thousands of residents. Although the group promises no harm, the area remains under blockade with rising food prices and fuel shortages. Local clergy and Catholic organizations report a tense atmosphere while continuing aid distribution. All bishops have stayed in the city, keeping churches open. Pope Francis and Cardinal Mario Zenari have called for prayers and expressed concern over the violence and civilian suffering in the region.
Kinga Schierstaedt, ACN’s Africa project coordinator, recently visited South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, which gained independence in 2011 after decades of conflict. The country continues to suffer from a civil war that ended in 2018, leaving millions displaced and traumatized. Schierstaedt reports that the Catholic Church serves as a vital source of hope for locals despite severe infrastructure damage. In the Diocese of Yei, many residents fled, and facilities like hospitals and ambulances remain non-functional due to war damage. The Church also addresses deep-rooted tribalism and harmful cultural practices, such as polygamy, while struggling with a shortage of local clergy and poor transportation networks.
More than 40 dioceses in Spain participated in REDWEEK by illuminating churches and landmarks in red to raise awareness about Christians facing persecution globally. Spanish bishops, including Archbishop Luis Argüello and Cardinal José Cobo, shared messages urging the faithful to remember those suffering discrimination and violence for their faith. The initiative, organized by Aid to the Church in Need, involved specific events such as lighting the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid and the Sacred Heart monument in Getafe. Church leaders emphasized that remembering persecuted believers strengthens their own faith and calls for solidarity with those who cannot practice their religion freely.
Spain participated in the REDWEEK campaign from November 18 to 24, 2024, organized by Aid to the Church in Need. The initiative involved 200 parishes across 41 dioceses and 30 major monuments, including the Sagrada Familia and La Almudena Cathedral. Events included prayers, Masses, and screenings of the documentary 'Heroes of the Faith' to raise awareness about persecuted Christians. Civil buildings in cities like Zaragoza and Tarragona also lit up in red. According to the outlet, this international effort aims to highlight the reality of Christian persecution in the 21st century.
Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada reports that over 1,000 monuments in more than 20 countries were illuminated red during REDWEEK from November 18 to 24, 2024. The initiative highlights the plight of persecuted Christians. Notable sites included Notre Dame in Paris, cathedrals in Ireland, and landmarks in Canada, Australia, and Mexico. The organization states that the red color symbolizes Christian martyrs. Alongside the light displays, hundreds of prayer meetings and masses were held worldwide to raise awareness and support for believers facing discrimination and violence in the twenty-first century.
Translated from Español
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
