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Mons. Aurelio Gazzera, coadjutor Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Bangassou in the Central African Republic (CAR). Credit: ACN

Catholic Bishop-Elect in CAR Pledges to Reach out to Rebels in Search for Peace

Mar 5, 2024

Mons. Aurelio Gazzera, coadjutor Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Bangassou in the Central African Republic (CAR), has promised to promote dialogue with various rebel groups operating in the country, noting that he seeks to be a “symbol of peace” in his leadership. 

Baptism, Confirmation Still Going on despite Insecurity: Catholic Bishop in Burkina Faso

Feb 29, 2024

The preparation of candidates for Baptism and confirmation is still going on in all Dioceses in Burkina Faso despite persistent insecurity, a Catholic Bishop in the West African nation has said.

Pilgrims praying at the Shrine of Our Lady of Yagma in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Credit: ACN

Weekend of Gloom as Catholics Killed in Burkina Faso, Monks Abducted in Ethiopia

Feb 27, 2024

Christians in multiple countries experienced what has been described as “a dark weekend” of persecution towards Sunday, February 25, with dozens of killings occurring in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.

Bishop António Juliasse Ferreira Sandramo. Credit: ACN

Catholic Bishop in Mozambique Reports of Mass Exodus as Islamists Attack Villages

Feb 25, 2024

The Bishop of Mozambique’s Catholic Diocese of Pemba has reported of an “immense crowd” fleeing in despair as jihadists wreak havoc across villages in the embattled Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

José Si Esono. Credit: ACN

Inside Plans to Open Beatification Process for Martyred Catechist in Equatorial Guinea

Jan 29, 2024

In Equatorial Guinea, the name of José Si Esono is synonymous with the country’s first evangelization.

Margaret and Dominic Attah with Lord Alton and other parliamentarians on #RedWednsday 2023. Credit: ACN

British Catholic Politician Demands Justice for Christians Killed in Nigeria at Christmas

Jan 21, 2024

British politician Lord Alton of Liverpool has called on the U.K. government to urgently address persecution in Nigeria, starting with last year’s Christmas attacks that left over 200 Christians in Nigeria’s Plateau State dead.

Sanctuary of the martyrs of brotherhood in Buta. Credit: ACN

Nigeria Leads Countries with Most Christian Murders, Kidnappings of Clergy: Report

Jan 9, 2024

The Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, has compiled a report that places Nigeria ahead of all countries in the world that experienced most kidnappings of Clergy and the killing of Christians in 2023.

Massacre in Plateau Nigeria on 24 December 2023.  Credit: Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)

Amid Persecution, Nigeria’s Christians Rely on Saints for Inspiration, Not State: Priest

Jan 8, 2024

Christians in Nigeria can no longer trust their government to protect them against persecution; they are now drawing their inspiration from the lives of the saints of the Church, a Catholic Priest in the West African nation has said.

Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga blessing an elderly man. Credit: ACN

Cardinal Touring War-Torn Communities in CAR to Instil Hope among “abandoned” Villagers

Dec 15, 2023

The Cardinal in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been going around the country, engaging with members of communities, who have been abandoned, assuring them of his closeness.

Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri Diocese. Credit: ACN

Bishop Who Received Vision of Jesus Promoting Rosary Campaign to End Violence in Nigeria

Oct 18, 2023

The Catholic Bishop of Nigeria’s Maiduguri Diocese, who received a vision of Jesus telling him to pray the Holy Rosary to restore peace in Northern Nigeria is rallying for participation in a prayer campaign, which Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International launched.

Bishop Bruno Ateba of the Catholic Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo in Cameroon. Credit: ACN

Lack of Job Opportunities and Emigration Have “a clear connection”: Cameroonian Bishop

Oct 15, 2023

Bishop Bruno Ateba of the Catholic Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo in Cameroon has attributed the phenomenon of emigration of Africans to other countries to lack of job opportunities in their respective countries. 

Bishop Martin Albert Happe of Nouakchott with children who received first Holy Communion. Credit: Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International

How Mauritania’s Tiny Catholic Population Has Stood Out in Humanitarian Work

Oct 7, 2023

Though small in numbers, the Catholic Church in the Northwestern African nation of Mauritania has carved out a space for itself in serving all, including non-Catholics.

Matgoro community (Vicariat Apostolique de Mongo). Credit: ACN

Catholic Bishop in Chad Upbeat about “a vibrant Church” among Small Minority Community

Sep 24, 2023

Though Chad is significantly Christian, most inhabitants of the Eastern part of the country, which is served by the Apostolic Vicariate of Mongo, are Muslims. Of the 1.7 million people that live in this vastly desert territory, only about 15,000 are Christians, the Bishop of Mongo has said about the figure that translates to less than 1 percent.

Credit: Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International

Scores Executed as Islamist Jihadists Reportedly Target Christians at Mozambican Village

Sep 19, 2023

At least 11 people were killed on September 15 after members of the Islamic State attacked a village in Mozambique and opened fire on Christians after hand-picking them from Muslims, the Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, has reported.

Holy Mass in Burkina Faso. Credit: Aid to the Church in Need

Christians in Burkina Faso Going Back to Church amid Persecution: Catholic Priest

Sep 2, 2023

Christians in Burkina Faso who had abandoned the Church are coming back much stronger, a Catholic Priest serving in the West African nation that is experiencing a high level of persecution has said.

Credit: AED

Major Seminaries in Burundi Set Limit to Enrollment amid “boom in vocations”

Jul 24, 2023

Major Seminaries in Burundi have been forced to regulate their enrollment as the number of young people seeking to join Priestly and Religious Life continues to rise in the Eastern African country.

Credit: ACN

Charity Foundation Responds to Threat from Sects Luring Catholics from Zambian Church

Jul 2, 2023

Growth of the Catholic Church in Zambia is thwarted by the constant move by sects to lure Catholics from the Church, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International has said.

Participants attending the filmmaking training in Nigeria. Credit: Courtesy Photo

“Huge potential, audience”: Catholic Charity Foundation Official on Filmmaking in Africa

Jun 30, 2023

The filmmaking industry in Africa has “a huge potential” as well as audience, an official of the Catholic Pontifical and Charity Foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, has told ACI Africa in an interview.

Sr. Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti, a missionary who was abducted in Mali in February 2017 and held for nearly five year. Credit: ACN

“Spiritually transformative”: Catholic Nun on Years Spent in Jihadist Captivity in Mali

Jun 26, 2023

Sr. Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti, a missionary who was abducted in Mali in February 2017 and held for nearly five years has described the years she spent with her abductors as “spiritually transformative” and a blessing in her life.

Altar of St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish of Ondo Diocese. Credit: ACN

Nigerian Catholic Priest Proposes Beatification of 2022 Pentecost Sunday Massacre Victims

Jun 3, 2023

A Catholic Priest in Nigeria has proposed the beatification of those who lost their lives in last year’s Pentecost Sunday massacre.