The Aid to the Church in Need foundation presented its 2025 World Religious Freedom Report in a city in Spain. The event was presided over by a bishop and featured testimony from an Iraqi priest. This priest shared his experience fleeing Daesh persecution, noting he lost his brother to violence and escaped under threat of death. The outlet states that religious freedom is at risk for more than half the global population. Attendees were encouraged to sign a manifesto supporting this fundamental human right. The gathering highlighted the resilience of persecuted Christians and the importance of maintaining faith under pressure.
Since the 2022 invasion, Aid to the Church in Need has funded 1,256 projects in Ukraine totaling over 30 million euros. The organization supports the local Catholic Church in providing food, medical care, and shelter to displaced persons and vulnerable populations. Benefactors enable sisters and priests in cities like Kharkiv, Odesa, and Mykolaiv to distribute meals, pay for trauma healing, and maintain energy infrastructure. Testimonies from recipients highlight spiritual comfort and practical aid. The group says this support helps maintain hope and dignity for those enduring the war's physical and psychological toll.
On World Radio Day, ACN highlighted the vital role of Catholic radio in Peru’s Amazon. A station representative explained that the broadcast acts as a permanent missionary, reaching dispersed communities where priests visit rarely. The transmission provides spiritual comfort, religious education, and social information in an area with limited infrastructure. ACN supports these efforts to maintain equipment and ensure the signal continues despite technical and economic challenges in the remote region.
Nine Catholics were abducted in northern Nigeria while attending a prayer vigil at a local mission station. Local church authorities reported that armed men stormed the church and took the victims to an unknown location. In response, local authorities announced a police deployment for search and rescue operations. This incident follows another attack in a different Nigerian state, where eleven people were kidnapped and three killed. Catholic organizations are urging the government to increase security presence and establish new military bases to protect civilians amid rising violence in the region.
The 11th anniversary of the execution of 21 Christians in Libya is commemorated. The victims, mostly Copts from Egypt, were kidnapped in a coastal area by Daesh and beheaded. The Catholic Church recognized them as martyrs. The group killed 20 Egyptian Christians and one Ghanaian worker who also professed faith. Families expressed pride and forgiveness. The event shocked the global Christian community and is viewed as a significant example of steadfast faith.
A bishop presided over the presentation of the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World report in a city in Spain. The event, organized by Aid to the Church in Need and the local diocese, featured testimony from a priest from Burkina Faso regarding religious persecution. The bishop described religious liberty as foundational to all other rights, warning of both violent repression and subtle discrimination in Western democracies. The foundation also promoted an international manifesto urging governments to protect persecuted communities. The report aims to raise global awareness about the challenges faced by believers worldwide.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Gor Davtyan on UnsplashGood news and persecution
Father Gabriel Romanelli, the Catholic parish priest in Gaza, tells ACN that the humanitarian situation remains critical despite the ceasefire. He reports that bombings continue near the Yellow Line, causing destruction and casualties. Infrastructure for water and electricity is destroyed, leading to disease outbreaks. UNICEF data cited indicates 100 children have died since the truce began. Romanelli urges an end to the war and increased material aid for the 2.3 million residents, noting that schools are overcrowded with displaced families and education is severely limited.
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A bishop presided over the launch of the ACN 2025 Religious Freedom Report in Spain. The event featured testimony from a Nigerian priest, who described severe persecution including attacks and kidnappings. The ACN director highlighted the Pope's encouragement to support persecuted churches. The report states that over 5.4 billion people live where religious freedom is violated. The bishop urged attendees to sign a manifesto defending this fundamental right, emphasizing that faith faces life-threatening risks in regions like Nigeria.
In a city in Burkina Faso, a Catholic radio station fosters interreligious dialogue amid ongoing jihadist violence. The station's director regularly invites a local Muslim leader to monthly programs. According to Aid to the Church in Need, this initiative aims to build fraternity and counter the divisive strategies of terrorist groups that have displaced millions. The project, supported by a pontifical foundation, encourages mutual understanding and tolerance between Christians and Muslims. This effort aligns with the International Day of Human Fraternity, emphasizing that peaceful coexistence is an urgent necessity rather than a distant ideal in a region suffering from nearly a decade of conflict.
Aid to the Church in Need is organizing a 24-hour prayer campaign for Myanmar, marking the fifth anniversary of the ongoing conflict. The organization's executive president urges global solidarity with the local Church and victims suffering from years of violence. The initiative also honors those affected by recent natural disasters. ACN emphasizes that prayer remains a vital source of hope for a population facing exhaustion and fear, while local clergy continue their pastoral duties despite personal hardships. The charity invites people worldwide to participate through Mass, the Rosary, or other prayers to support peace and reconciliation in the country.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Austin Curtis on UnsplashPersecuted church
According to Aid to the Church in Need, priest killings rose to 19 in 2025, up from 13 the previous year. Arrests decreased to 28, largely due to fewer detentions in a Central American country. However, kidnappings remained high, particularly in a West African nation and a Central African country. The foundation highlights ongoing persecution in countries including Belarus, China, India, and Venezuela, where clergy face detention, false accusations, or travel restrictions. These figures underscore the continued dangers faced by religious leaders globally.
A report from a diocese in northern Nigeria indicates that armed bandits killed approximately 50 people in regions of northern and southern Nigeria between late December 2025 and early January 2026. A bishop stated that violence peaked in a specific village, where attackers burned a market and killed 42 men. The group also destroyed a Catholic church in another locality and kidnapped women and children. ACN reports that victims included both Christians and Muslims. The bishop has called for immediate military intervention to dismantle bandit hideouts in a nearby forest reserve and protect civilians from further displacement and loss of life.
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María Cristina Santacruz, known as Titi de la Misericordia, has led intensive pastoral work in Ecuador's prisons, particularly in Guayaquil, amid the country's severe violence crisis. Speaking on ACN's program, she explained that her mission began after feeling a divine call to serve inmates. She describes her role as a radical act of love, accompanying prisoners through illness and death while fostering spiritual conversion. Her ministry also supports families and helps released inmates reintegrate through housing and job programs. Santacruz emphasizes that material aid and solid catechist training are urgently needed to sustain this transformative work in one of the world's most dangerous penitentiary centers.
A priest in northern Nigeria was released after two months of captivity. He was abducted during an attack on his parish residence, which also resulted in the death of his brother. Local church authorities confirmed the release and thanked security forces and the faithful. Reports indicate that over 200 Nigerian priests have been kidnapped in the last decade, with 70% of dioceses affected. The organization attributes this persecution to jihadist expansion and Fulani incursions in the region, highlighting the severe dangers faced by clergy in the area.
Christians in India endured a tense Christmas season marked by violence and intimidation, according to Aid to the Church in Need. Hindu nationalist groups disrupted Masses, vandalized decorations, and threatened worshippers in various states. The organization recorded over 80 incidents during the festivities, citing ethno-religious nationalism as a key factor. Catholic bishops condemned these actions as violations of fundamental freedoms and requested protection for minorities. Human rights representatives noted that political gestures of inclusion do not offset the prevailing climate of hostility faced by believers in the region.
A catechist in Burkina Faso and his pregnant wife were kidnapped by jihadist militants. They were held captive for four months under constant threats and torture. The catechist refused to renounce his faith, praying hundreds of Hail Marys daily. The group eventually released them in an abandoned location. Tragically, the wife lost their unborn child during the ordeal. The article highlights the extreme dangers facing Christians in Burkina Faso, where terrorists control significant territory and violence has displaced millions. The catechist’s story illustrates the resilience of local religious leaders in the region.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the diplomatic corps at the Vatican on January 9, 2026, urging them to protect religious liberty. Citing data from Aid to the Church in Need, he noted that 64 percent of the global population faces severe religious restrictions. The Pope warned that conflicts and authoritarianism are worsening discrimination against Christians. He called for dialogue over force in regions like Ukraine and Venezuela, emphasizing that religious freedom is a fundamental human right. The Pontiff asked diplomats to prioritize peace and respect for human dignity in international relations.
Peter Jurwel, a catechist from the Dinka tribe in South Sudan, works to keep the faith alive in remote villages where priests rarely visit due to poor infrastructure and ongoing conflict. According to Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada (ACN), Peter and over 300 other catechists in his diocese serve as the primary line of evangelization. They face extreme poverty, food scarcity, and dangerous conditions in cattle camps. Peter states that he dedicates himself fully to his apostolic work, though he also farms to survive the dry season. The organization highlights their role in spreading the Gospel and combating superstition in one of the world's poorest nations.
Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada presented its 2025 Religious Freedom Report in a city in central Spain. The event featured an Iraqi priest who shared his testimony of fleeing ISIS persecution. A bishop and a regional coordinator also attended. The priest described the severe threats Christians face in Iraq, noting that radicalism hinders interfaith coexistence. He emphasized dialogue and respect as solutions, recalling the Pope's 2021 visit. The report highlights that religious freedom is threatened for over half the global population, particularly in regions affected by extremist groups.
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