Activity Report 2024

ACN mourns the death of Pope Francis

The Catholic world mourns the death of Pope Francis. We at ACN also extend our heartfelt gratitude as we bid farewell to the pontiff, who died on Easter Monday of the Holy Year 2025 at the age of 88. We remember a pope who was unique and unconventional in many ways, wholeheartedly supporting our Charity and our global efforts to aid persecuted Christians and the suffering Church. Despite his pontificate being marked by a dramatic global rise in war, vio- lence and challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic, Pope Francis led his mini stry with unwavering courage and confidence. He was the first pope in twelve centuries who was not born in Europe and the first Jesuit on the throne of Peter. He was also the first head of the Catholic Church in history to meet the Patriarch of Moscow and the first pope to travel to Iraq and

Mongolia. He was our highest superior by virtue of his office, as ACN was ele- vated to the rank of a Pontifical Foun dation by Benedict XVI in 2011. He consistently supported us with special benevolence. Above all, we remember Francis as a pope of dialogue and frank words. In view of the world situation, he repea tedly appealed to the conscience of those in power and responsibility to put a stop to violence, discrimination and persecution of religious minorities and the destruction of nature. As a tireless advocate for peace, he was deeply concerned about the fate of humanity. On the Feast of the Assumption in 2022, for example, he spoke in tears about the war in Ukraine. The consecration of the world, and especially Russia and Ukraine, to Mary on 25 March 2022 is undoubtedly one of the most impressive moments of his pontificate.

Presentation of the DOCAT on Catholic social teaching in June 2017 at the Vatican.

Address for peace in Syria at the Angelus prayer in December 2018 in Rome.

Former ACN Executive President T. Heine-Geldern in August 2019 at the handover of one of the 6,000 rosaries.

8 | ACN Activity Report 2024

| ACN mourns the death of Pope Francis