It has been presented in more than ten countries on three continents, organized by the national offices of ACN and with the participation of various public personalities.
ACN – The Religious Freedom in the World 2023 Report of the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need has been presented in more than ten countries on three continents. The events, organized by the various national offices of ACN, were attended by various public personalities.
In Portugal, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Augusto Santos Silva, spoke about the importance of democracy in the defense of religious freedom. «There is no worse enemy of religious freedom than political authoritarianism, and there is no better friend of religious freedom than political democracy.» He recalled that «we must constantly improve the way in which the state and civil society look at minority religions in each country, leaving the challenge for people to be «attentive» with respect to «the situation of religious freedom in each of our countries.»
Also speaking during the session was the president of the Commission for Religious Freedom, José Vera Jardim, who considered the study to be a «complete, objective document, with a great pedagogical sense» and, therefore, «essential reading» for anyone concerned about the issue of religious freedom in the world.
Benoît de Blanpré, director of Aid to the Church in Need in France, warned of the importance of guaranteeing religious freedom throughout the world: «We cannot remain inactive in the face of so many cases of violations of religious freedom,» he said. «We must lead governments to respect religious minorities and, in general, to leave a place for religion in the social sphere.»
The presentation of the Religious Freedom in the World 2023 Report at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See was attended by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, and the President of ACN International, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza. During the event, the attendees also watched a video message from the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
In Colombia, Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez, a missionary who was kidnapped by jihadists in Mali, shared her testimony. «It’s hard to be chained. It is difficult to be beaten. But I lived the moment as God presented it to me and I did not wish ill to my captors.»
The Religious Freedom 2023 report reveals the upsurge in persecution and the increase in impunity. This study, published every two years by Aid to the Church in Need since 1999, covers 196 countries worldwide and all religions.