In Gaza, the Catholic parish of the Sacred Family continues to operate despite the ongoing conflict. Father Gabriel Romanelli, along with other clergy and religious, supports approximately 450 refugees, including Christians, Muslims, and people with disabilities. The United Nations recently concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, prompting Pope Leo XIV to call for alternative solutions to forced exile. George Akroush of the Latin Patriarchate confirmed severe shortages of food and medicine. Despite nearby demolitions and military operations, the religious community remains to serve the vulnerable, citing spiritual duty and the lack of safe alternatives for displaced civilians.
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The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need expressed deep concern over a massacre in a village in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Between September 8 and 9, the Allied Democratic Forces killed at least 64 people, many during a wake. The group used firearms and hammers, burning homes in a premeditated attack. ACN highlighted worsening violence in eastern Congo, citing recent attacks in other nearby areas. A local bishop offered spiritual support. The charity urged international action to protect civilians and ensure religious freedom amid ongoing instability involving over 120 armed groups.
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Intense fighting and explosions occurred in a city in Syria during parliamentary elections following the fall of a former president's regime. A missionary reported that his parish church served as a shelter for families seeking protection from the violence. The clashes involve tensions between the central government and forces in the north. Schools remained closed due to uncertainty, and missiles landed near the church and the local bishopric. The priest stated that the community is living in fear and requested prayers for peace in the region.
During the Migrant Jubilee on October 4 and 5, the Church highlighted the plight of displaced people. Father Ubaldino Andrade, a Salesian missionary in Palabek, Uganda, reports that approximately 450 refugees arrive weekly, fleeing war, hunger, and persecution. He emphasizes that refugees bring potential, noting that 120 young people in the camp assist the elderly and children. The article also cites Pope Leo XIV, who described migrants as witnesses of hope. Additionally, Aid to the Church in Need allocated over 10 million euros in 2024 to support Christians fleeing violence globally. This initiative underscores the Church's commitment to aiding those forced to leave their homes due to various crises.
On October 5, 2025, the Spanish program Pueblo de Dios aired its first episode featuring Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada (ACN) in Ukraine. The documentary highlights the foundation's efforts to support the local Church amid the ongoing conflict. ACN has provided 25 million euros over three years for spiritual care, psychological support, and training for clergy. The report shows priests and faithful in Lviv and Kiev coping with war trauma. This is the first of three episodes showcasing how aid helps maintain faith and hope in a country exhausted by violence.
A Vatican commission, supported by Aid to the Church in Need, has documented 1,624 Christians killed for their faith between 2000 and 2025. Pope Francis established the group in 2023 to preserve these testimonies. The findings will be honored during an ecumenical celebration at Rome's Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on September 14. Regina Lynch, ACN's executive president, stated that these martyrs strengthen daily faith. The victims include individuals from Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe, with causes ranging from jihadist attacks to ethnic conflicts.
A senior church leader in Mozambique recently reported the illegal occupation of ecclesiastical properties by local groups. The seized sites include seminaries, a parish, and convent land, with some areas vandalized and a mosque constructed nearby. Despite a prior court order for restitution, authorities have failed to enforce the decision. The bishop claims officials were expelled and suspects powerful hidden forces are involved. This situation raises concerns about worsening interreligious tensions in a region already affected by insurgency, highlighting the vulnerability of Christian institutions to land grabs and local hostility.
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Hanna Khoury, a Greek Orthodox Christian living in Jerusalem, described the severe hardships faced by local believers in Israel and Palestine during the ongoing conflict. He reported that families lack food, medicine, and security, while the tourism-dependent community suffers from unemployment. Despite the danger, clergy in Gaza have chosen to remain to support civilians. Patriarchs Pizzabala and Theophilos III issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to the region. Khoury emphasized the need to maintain the Christian presence in the Holy Land, noting that the population has dropped below one percent, and called for basic humanitarian aid and an end to the fighting.
On September 14, Pope Leo XIV presided over an ecumenical service at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome to honor 1,700 martyrs of the 21st century. The event included leaders from Orthodox, Oriental, and Protestant traditions. During his homily, the Pope stated that these martyrs spread the Gospel in a world marked by hatred and violence. Regina Lynch, president of ACN International, attended the ceremony. The Pope cited specific examples of faith, including Father Ragheed Ganni and Sister Dorothy Stang, emphasizing that their sacrifice unites Christians across different denominations through the shared witness of blood.
Construction has started in a village in northern Iraq for a sanctuary dedicated to Mary as Mother of Persecuted Christians. Located within a recently built church in the Nineveh Plains, this is the first such site in the Middle East and the seventh globally. The central feature is an icon presented to a senior archbishop. The location holds historical significance, as the area was heavily impacted by ISIS. According to reports, plans exist to establish additional sanctuaries worldwide in the near future.
Students from Portugal’s Club Darca raised over 500 euros to support summer camps for Ukrainian youth affected by the war. The initiative, organized by the Maria José and João Gagliardini Graça Foundation, rewarded participants with one euro for every hour of uninterrupted study without mobile phones. The funds were donated to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to support 285 young people from four parishes in the Ukrainian diocese of Kamianets-Podilski. ACN organizes these camps annually to provide relief from conflict and poverty for children worldwide. Bishop León Dubravskyi expressed gratitude, noting the camps offer spiritual support and a break from daily attacks.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Haytham Reslan on UnsplashPersecuted church
Three people died and three others were seriously injured in a village in Benue State, Nigeria. The community, which is predominantly Christian, has faced repeated assaults by Islamist militants, believed to be Fulani herders. A local priest told ACN that security remains unreliable, prompting women and children to block roads for protection. This incident follows a previous massacre that killed many people. The priest attributes the violence to land disputes with religious undertones, noting that the community struggles to maintain hope amid ongoing insecurity and displacement.
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The Catholic foundation Aid to the Church in Need provides financial assistance to students in various regions as the new school year begins. In the recent academic year, the organization paid salaries for thousands of teachers and awarded scholarships to many students across multiple countries. This support helps keep Christian families in their homelands by ensuring access to schooling amidst persecution and instability. In one specific country, the foundation aids numerous schools serving many pupils to prevent displacement. The organization also funds university scholarships in another nation and emergency school operations in a third country, highlighting its broad commitment to educational continuity for vulnerable communities.
Pope Leo XIV expressed solidarity with the people of a northern region in Mozambique during his Angelus address. He urged the world not to forget the victims of the ongoing insurgency that has caused thousands of deaths and displaced over 60,000 people recently. A local bishop stated that the Pope’s message offers comfort and serves as a call to resume peace talks. The conflict, which began in 2017, has resulted in more than 6,000 deaths and over a million displaced individuals. The Vatican and local church groups continue to provide pastoral and material aid to those affected by the violence in the northern region.
The Catholic and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Cardinals Pierbattista Pizzabala and Theophilos III, announced on August 26 that clergy and religious orders will remain in Gaza. They reject Israeli evacuation orders, stating that fleeing south would be a death sentence for vulnerable civilians, including children and the disabled. The churches serve as refuges for hundreds of people. The leaders call for an end to hostilities, citing Pope Leo XIV, and urge the international community to stop the war and secure the release of hostages. This decision comes despite recent attacks on the Catholic parish.
Raquel Martín, communications manager for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Spain, visited Ukraine in June to assess the impact of the ongoing conflict. She reported severe emotional and physical exhaustion among the local Christian population, noting that priests were visibly aged and distressed. In one instance, a young priest wept in her arms during a trauma counseling session. Martín also shared a story from Father Roman, a military chaplain who described a miraculous rescue by a soldier named Jesus while crossing a minefield. The organization emphasizes that continued support and prayer are vital for the resilience of Ukrainian communities facing the protracted war.
Marcela Szymanski, editor of the Aid to the Church in Need report, discussed religious persecution on the UN International Day of Victims of Religious Violence. Established six years ago, the day aims to highlight global violence against believers. Szymanski notes that while Western awareness is growing, many nations fail to protect minorities. She urges political pressure and economic aid to stop oppression, emphasizing that victims often remain silent in the West compared to other groups. The interview aired on Radio María on August 21, 2025.
A lead editor of ACN’s upcoming World Religious Freedom Report warns that global violations are worsening. She highlights rising extremism in parts of Africa, particularly in specific nations, alongside increased ethnic-religious nationalism in Asia and the Middle East. The report also notes rising incidents in Latin America and the West. The editor emphasizes that denying rights to one group eventually endangers others. She urges public awareness and support for victims, noting that silence allows abuses to continue unchecked, putting believers at severe risk.
In Villa Graciela, Guatemala, lay ministers Mirna Sucely Ramírez and José Flavio Silvestre have served for two decades, visiting homes to provide spiritual support in a region marked by extreme poverty and social fragmentation. Bishop José Cayetano Parra Novo of Santa Rosa de Lima emphasizes the necessity of this outreach evangelization. The local parish dedicated to the Christ of Esquipulas requires significant structural repairs, including a new roof and electrical system. Thanks to aid from Aid to the Church in Need, the community is renovating the aging temple to better serve its nearly two thousand members. The project highlights the resilience of Guatemalan Catholics in the face of economic hardship. (August 12, 2025)
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