The Creed that unites and sustains the Church in need
In Turkey, Pope Leo XIV recalled that the Creed is not a cold formula, but a compass that restores Christians to their center and their mission. In his speech, he connected the essence of faith with the responsibility to translate it into concrete works, giving special thanks for the work of organizations such as ACN.
“The first is the importance of understanding the essence of faith and of being Christian. Around the Creed, the Church of Nicaea rediscovered its unity (cf. Bull Spes Non Confundit, 17). The Creed is not simply a doctrinal formula; it is an invitation to seek—amid different sensibilities, spiritualities, and cultures—the unity and essential core of the Christian faith centered on Christ and the Tradition of the Church. Nicaea still asks us: Who is Jesus for us? What does it essentially mean to be Christian? The Creed, professed unanimously together, becomes a criterion of discernment, a compass, the center around which our beliefs and actions must revolve. Speaking of the connection between faith and works, I would like to thank international organizations for their support of the Church’s charitable activities, especially for the aid offered to victims after the 2023 earthquake. Here I would highlight Caritas Internationalis and Kirche in Not (Aid to the Church in Need -ACN).
The Holy Father’s words bring clarity to a world that often forgets what is essential: to believe is to love others. This is also the commitment of ACN, which for decades has stood by the Church that suffers and is persecuted. Its mission is not limited to material assistance; it is a profound act of communion. That is why it prays tirelessly for those who remain faithful in the midst of violence, informs the world to break the silence on persecution, and helps with concrete projects that support parishes, rebuild churches, and accompany vocations. In every gesture, ACN confirms that the Creed is lived by supporting our brothers and sisters where it hurts most.
