ACN Shares Stories of Christian Suffering at Brazilian Bishops’ Conference

Aid to the Church in Suffering (ACN) had a stand at the last meeting of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world. The pontifical foundation took this opportunity to spend time with bishops from dioceses in need and share stories of Christian suffering from other countries, especially Nigeria.

ACN was present at the last meeting of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB) in the state of São Paulo to listen to the Brazilian bishops, specifically those who lead the dioceses that already receive help from ACN.

Rafael D’Aqui, ACN International Project Manager for Latin America, was also present: “I heard stories about a Church facing great challenges: first, in terms of distance, with parishes that are sometimes 300 miles from the center of the diocese; then, there are different cultural realities, with a variety of ethnic groups living in the same diocese”.

D’Aqui added: “There are also areas that suffer from social conflicts, such as illegal mining, drugs and violence, which [son] like an open wound that affects pastoral work”.

He also said that he was impressed by “the gratitude of the bishops towards ACN and its benefactors, for all that they have done for the Church that suffers in Brazil, in the Amazon region, in the countryside, from north to south. I have had bishops crying, telling me that they can carry out their pastoral ministry, thanks to the support of the generous men and women who contribute to ACN.”

The CNBB is one of the largest gatherings of Catholic bishops in the world, with more than 300 prelates representing the country’s 279 jurisdictions, as well as 100 retired bishops.

This year’s was an elective assembly, in which the bishops voted for the new presidents of the different departments, as well as for the leadership of the CNBB, and they took stock of a four-year term that has just ended. The outgoing president, Archbishop Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo, described the last four years as stormy and one of the most difficult in Brazil’s history, due to increased polarization and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “In the middle of the storm, the CNBB was like a boat in the middle of a difficult journey, but the Lord called us to look for hope,” he said.

ACN also presented the Brazilian bishops with information on the persecuted Church, asking Monsignor John Bakeni, Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri in Nigeria, to record a video message that was reproduced for the assembly and presented by Ana Manente, president of ACN Brazil.

In his message, Monsignor Bakeni recalled: “Since 2009, the Islamist group Boko Haram has inflicted massive terror on the civilian population, killing more than 60,000 Nigerians, kidnapping thousands more and forcing millions to flee their homes.”

In March 2008, Boko Haram vowed to declare war on Nigerians and Christians in Nigeria. A spokesman for the militants said they would end the Christian presence in the country and establish an Islamic state in which Christians would not be able to live. We need help, and we need you to exert all the influence you can on our government, to strengthen religious freedom.”

Bishop Bakeni ended the video with a special thanks to ACN, which has helped the Nigerian people through prayer, solidarity and financial support. “Over the years, it has given us hope and a renewed reason to live. Although the Diocese of Maiduguri was shaken to its foundations, thanks to ACN, it is now stronger.”