Persecuted Catholics

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View of a recreation of an El Chipote prison cell during a photography exhibition of the victims of state repression in Nicaragua and their families, at the Hall of Former Presidents of the Costa Rican Congress in San Jose, on Nov. 5, 2021.

‘Insulted, beaten, imprisoned’ Nicaraguan priest details persecution

Jan 31, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

“If I’m here, it’s not because I wanted to fly to Washington to enjoy three days off with paid travel,”... Read more

The Trappist Sisters of Nicaragua announced Feb. 27, 2023, that they are leaving Nicaragua for Panama.

Dictatorship in Nicaragua confiscates monastery and arrests 20 people during Holy Week

Apr 13, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Trappist sisters of Nicaragua, who left the country in February, reported that the government told the bishop of Juigalpa... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen (right)  arrives at a court for his trial in Hong Kong on Sept. 26, 2022.

Cardinal Zen trial update: Defense calls for charges to be dismissed

Oct 31, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Lawyers defending Cardinal Joseph Zen and five other Hong Kong democracy activists took the floor Monday in the West Kowloon... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen arrives at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong, China.

Cardinal Zen’s trial reopens in Hong Kong days after Vatican-China deal renewal

Oct 27, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen resumed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, days after the Vatican announced the renewal of... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen, one of Asia's highest-ranking Catholic clerics, arrives at a court for his trial in Hong Kong on Sept. 26, 2022.

Cardinal Zen stands trial in Hong Kong

Sep 26, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Joseph Zen and five others stood trial in Hong Kong on Monday for failing to properly register a fund... Read more

Sister Suellen Tennyson, a member of the Congregation of the Marianites of Holy Cross, who was abducted in Burkina Faso April 4, 2022.

Abducted American religious sister freed in Burkina Faso

Aug 31, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

An American religious sister ministering in Burkina Faso who was kidnapped in April is free and safe after nearly five... Read more

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a White House daily press briefing at the James S. Brady Press Room of the White House Aug. 25, 2022 in Washington, D.C.

White House press secretary responds to EWTN’s question about Nicaraguan persecution of Catholics

Aug 25, 2022

By Edie Heipel

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre read a statement condemning recent attacks on "democratic leaders" in Nicaragua without specifically mentioning... Read more

Map of Nigeria.

Nigeria church massacre: State Dept. official meets local bishop

Jun 17, 2022

By Maisy Sullivan

The meeting took place following a request by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey. Read more

A crucifix which was destroyed during an attack on Saint Kisito minor seminary in Bougui, Burkina Faso, Feb. 10, 2022.

Minor seminary in Burkina Faso attacked

Feb 11, 2022

By CNA Staff

Saint Kisito de Bougui, a minor seminary in Burkina Faso, was attacked overnight, the pontifical charity Aid to the Church... Read more

Ali Ehsani.

An Afghan appeals to Pope Francis: Save a Catholic family stuck in Kabul

Aug 20, 2021

By Courtney Mares

An Afghan Christian refugee whose parents were killed by the Taliban in the 1990s is appealing to Pope Francis to... Read more

San Francisco City Hall.

San Francisco Catholic archdiocese 'surprised' by order to cease indoor, public Masses

Jul 2, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

The Archdiocese of San Francisco is pledging to comply with the city and county public health orders barring indoor public... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch of Eastern Catholic Churches based in the Middle East at the Vatican, Feb. 7, 2020.

Middle East patriarchs discuss plight of Christian minorities with Pope Francis

Feb 7, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Six Catholic patriarchs from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq met with Pope Francis at the Vatican Friday to discuss the... Read more

Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon and the Head of the Chaldean Catholic Church.

Iraqi cardinal pleads for help for Christians on Nineveh Plain

Dec 9, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako has appealed for financial and spiritual aid for Christians in the Middle East, especially in Iraq.  Read more

Police officers patrol city streets in Philippines.

'Once the Church is persecuted, the faith becomes alive': a pastor's story

Nov 26, 2019

By Matt Hadro

On May 4, 2002, Monsignor Romeo Saniel felt the gun against the back of his head and heard a loud click. It... Read more

A 2008 Orange walk in Glasgow.

Efforts to ease tensions over Orange walks in Glasgow

Jun 19, 2019

Some figures in the Catholic Church and Protestant loyalist groups in Scotland are seeking to reach a compromise regarding Protestant... Read more

The dome of a church profained by IS in the Christian city of Qaraqoosh, Nov. 2016.

USAID and Knights of Columbus in agreement to help Mid East Christians

Oct 12, 2018

The joint effort was agreed in a memorandum of understanding announced Oct. 12 and will begin in Iraq, before being... Read more

A 2008 Orange walk in Glasgow.

Glasgow archdiocese welcomes city's decision to reroute 'Orange walk'

Sep 4, 2018

The Archdiocese of Glasgow has welcomed the city council's decision Monday to reroute a Protestant march which was to have... Read more

Canon Tom White, who was spat upon while an Orange walk passed by his parish in Glasgow, July 7, 2018.

Man charged over assault on priest in Glasgow

Jul 27, 2018

Police Scotland have announced that a 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged assault of... Read more

Canon Tom White, who was spat upon while an Orange walk passed by his parish in Glasgow, July 7, 2018.

Calls to ban or regulate 'Orange walks' after priest spat on in Scotland

Jul 11, 2018

After a priest was spat at, verbally abused, and lunged at with a pole while an “Orange walk” passed by... Read more

The relics of St. John Southworth in London's Westminster Cathedral.

St John Southworth an 'inspiration and intercessor' for Westminster's priests

Jun 26, 2018

Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster reflected on St John Southworth, a martyr of 17th century England, in a pastoral letter... Read more