Kirche in Not

i.e., Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) dates back to 1947 when, after the Second World War, Premonstratensian Father Werenfried van Straaten called for reconciliation with the former enemy and organized aid in Belgium and the Netherlands for their German neighbors.

©Christinger/Wikipedia

Fourteen million displaced persons from the former German eastern territories poured into the four zones occupied by the Allied forces. There was too little shelter, food, and clothing, and Father Werenfried (nicknamed "Bacon Priest") and colleagues asked for material to help the Germans.

With his "Chapel Car Campaign," Father Werenfried provided spiritual support to the displaced persons, too. This Ostpriesterhilfe (Aid to Priests in the East) was launched in 1950.

Father Werenfried van Straaten preaching in front of a "chapel wagon." (©Mucci/Wikipedia)

In 1952, the organization began working to help persecuted Christians behind the Iron Curtain. Today, its focus is on pastoral assistance for persecuted, oppressed, and needy Christians around the world.

Every two years, ACN publishes an exhaustive report on the state of religious freedom. The report highlights cases of persecution and examines religious freedom as a whole, rather than limiting its analysis to Christian or Catholic communities.

The most recent report was published in 2023 and found that "persecution has increased since January 2021, while impunity continues to be the rule when it comes to attackers, including oppressive governments."


In 2025, the annual gathering of ACN took place in Rome. When a friend asked me if I wanted to join her, we had no idea that Pope Francis would die. On the morning of May 7, while we were on our flight from Frankfurt to the Holy City, a conclave convened in the Sistine Chapel.

Suddenly, the entire schedule of planned events was disrupted, especially since a visit to the site of the conclave was no longer possible.

When stepping out of our hotel in Rome, we had a magnificent view of St. Peter's Basilica.

As pilgrims, we wore a red scarf.

More than 1,300 people from around the world assembled for the welcome reception in the vast gardens of the Casa Generalizia del Passionisti (Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ) on the morning of May 8  and listened to several welcoming speeches, sermons, and prayers that were translated into another major language.

At the rostrum is a Cardinal, too old to vote in the conclave, flanked by ACN's Executive President, Regina Lynch.

         Was I dozing? (©RA)

These translations took their time, so the penitential procession was shortened.

We were on the grounds of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, so our procession passed Jesus in a grotto praying, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luc 22, 42-44)

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The procession ended in front of tables laden with delicious food. 

Buses took us to the ACN International opening event at the venerable Lateran Basilica, where a celebratory Mass was scheduled for us, the pilgrims.

All spiritual leaders of the pilgrim groups from various countries concelebrated Mass in festive vestments. Among them was our bearded Father Hubka, who looked at Red Baron, the photographer, with some disapproval. 

The Mass ran overtime and was followed by prayers, testimonies, and a one-hour Adoration.

 

My friend and I took a taxi and headed for the famous Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti (Spanish Steps). 

©Caffè Greco

We ended up at the nearby Antico Caffè Greco, a historic café where famous literary figures, including Goethe, Lord Byron, and even Casanova, once enjoyed their coffee.

They want to keep the commonplace tourists out. We paid through the nose for the due espressi and the two miserable cupcakes.

 
On the way back, our taxi driver told us, "Habemus Papam."

 

As we got out in front of our hotel, St. Peter's Basilica seemed to shine with a very special glow.

The following morning, we waited at the Piazza Pia near the Castel Sant'Angelo.

With a pilgrim's staff and scarf. Did I see the heavens open? (Acts 7:56) (©RA).

We were Pilgrims of Hope

Starting the joint procession on the pilgrimage route to St. Peter's Square.

Our group was approaching while other pilgrims were already waiting for their entry.

They handed out to us pilgrims the L'Osservatore Romano, with Leo XIV on the title page. Read my blog about my encounter with the new Pontiff here.

Now it was our turn to pass through the Holy Gate into St. Peter's Basilica.

The view into the dome is breathtaking.

Could we say with Schiller, "Who counts the nations, spells the names, that piously (?) gathered here?" Well, it was sightseeing, and some Germans were there.

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Jesus presents Pope Pius VIII while Peter and Paul watch.

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I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19), but here St. Peter holds the one key to the Basilica.

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The photo is blurred because La Pietà is protected by armoured glass.

On our way out, our group was guided through the basement of St. Peter's Basilica. We passed the tombs of several defunct popes and lingered for a moment at Pope Benedict XVI's gravestone.

 

In the entrance hall, the one who started it all. Constantine the Great is banned from the Basilica's interior. His lifestyle wasn't quite Catholic. Read more about the guy who gave us Christians the Apostolic Creed in German.

Passing again through the Holy Gate? Our attention was instead drawn to the gate's bronze relief.

Stay tuned to a blog on the Vatican Museum.

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