Pope Francis to the benefactors of Aid to the Church in Need » May the Lord make your prayers and commitment to the Church bear fruit throughout the world. «
Ever since its earliest days, ACN has been geared towards charity and reconcilia- tion, providing assistance to Christians in need. With the support of our bene- 1947 At Pope Pius XII’s request, Father Werenfried van Straaten founds ACN (then “Aid to the Eastern Priests”) at the Premonstratensian monastery in Tongerlo, Belgium. In a unique reconciliation campaign, donations are collected in Belgium and the Netherlands for displaced Germans, including 3,000 priests. 1950 To provide pastoral care to displaced Germans, 35 buses and trucks are converted into “chapels on wheels” as part of the highly original “chapel truck campaign”. 1952 ACN comes to the aid of persecuted Christians behind the “Iron Curtain”. The projects range from helping to renovate churches and train priests to funding radio broadcasts and the book apostolate.
1965 Petitions also reach us from the Church in Africa, which we proceed to assist with the same commitment as on other continents. 1966 ACN is consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima. The following year, a large international pilgrimage takes place to mark the 50th anniversary of the apparitions. 1970 We launch our aid campaign to assist the Church in Haiti, one of the world’s poorest countries. 1975 ACN relocates its international headquarters from Rome to Königstein/Taunus. 1979 With the Children’s Bible, we launch a major project for boosting evangelisation efforts worldwide. To date, the book has been translated into 194 languages and printed and distributed over 51 million times. 1984 ACN is recognised by the Holy See as a Universal Public Association of Pontifical Right. 1989 Following the political turning point in Eastern Europe, ACN provides aid for reconstruction and new evangelisation in the former Eastern bloc countries. 1992 By order of Pope John Paul II, our aid factors, we will remain true to this spirit in future with a view to helping the Church where its believers are threatened most by persecution, discrimination and poverty.
1956 After the bloody suppression of
the Hungarian uprising against the Stalinist system, ACN helps the local Church get through the crisis.
1961 We launch our aid projects for the beleaguered Church in Asia. Following this, the first meeting between Father Werenfried and Mother Teresa takes place in the Home for the Dying in Calcutta. 1962 We step up our aid for persecuted
and threatened Catholics in the “Catholic continent” of Latin America.
organisation begins to work towards a dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.
94 | ACN Activity Report 2024 | Our history
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