More than a hundred temples and monuments from 30 Spanish dioceses, including the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and the Roman amphitheater in Tarragona, have joined the Aid to the Church in Need initiative ( ACN) to illuminate its facades in red and make visible the suffering of the Christians who They are persecuted for their faith in many parts of the world. The initiative of this pontifical foundation, within the framework of the so-called ‘Redweek’, has been welcomed by numerous churches and monuments in Europe, America, the Philippines and Australia.
The REDWEEK initiative will be celebrated in more than 20 countries around the world, with more than 1,000 buildings illuminated. The Westminster Parliament in London and the Sacré Coeur basilica in Paris will also be illuminated in red in tribute to the ‘anonymous martyrs’, who continue to shed their blood for their faith. In previous editions, the Colosseum in Rome and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro were illuminated by persecuted Christians.
Along with the symbolic act of lighting, the churches that have supported the ACN initiative have organized exhibitions and the screening of documentaries throughout this week, with testimonies of victims of religious persecution, as well as prayer meetings.
Aid to the Church in Need has taken the opportunity to present its report on discrimination and persecution of Christians in the period 2022-2024. The report is prefaced by the archbishop of the Iraqi city of Erbil, Bishop Bashar Warda. Despite the key support provided by the West for regime change in Iraq – which went from Saddam’s dictatorship to an apparent democracy – The Arab Christian minority feels even more discriminated againston the part of Muslim parties, both Shia and Sunni.
In the case study, the most systematic persecution continues to focus on a range of Muslim-majority countries – not necessarily governed by ‘Sharia’, Islamic law – as well as the veteran communist dictatorships of China, Vietnam and North Korea. .
For the first time, in this usual panorama, the report emphasizes the case of Nicaraguawhere the Sandinista regime – back in power – has accentuated the persecution of the Catholic clergy.
Between 2023 and 2024, dozens of bishops, priests and seminarians have been arrested, imprisoned and forced into exile. The regime of Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, has annulled the legal personality of many religious institutions, and has confiscated their properties. Several media outlets that have reported the situation have been closed. Religious events are closely monitored“which forces many priests to censor themselves.” The regime has also banned popular displays of fervor, such as Holy Week processions.
List of buildings that will light up red at REDWEEK 2024
– Barcelona, Basilica of the Sagrada Familia
– Madrid, Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena
– Church of the Savior, La Roda, Albacete
– Basilica of the Purísima, Yecla, Murcia
– Jerónimos Monastery, UCAM headquarters, Murcia
– Cathedral of the Assumption of Jaén
– Jaén City Council
– Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Valladolid
– Churches of Our Lady of Antigua, Our Lady of Angustias and Our Lady of Prado, Valladolid
– Basilica of Santa Engracia, Zaragoza
– Roman Amphitheater, Tarragona
– Égara Headquarters Complex, Terrassa: Churches of Sant Pere, Santa Maria and Sant Miquel
– Basilica of Covadonga, Asturias
– Monument to the Sacred Heart, Cerro de los Ángeles, Getafe
– Monument to the Sacred Heart of Las Ermitas, Córdoba
– Co-Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda, Logroño
– Cristo del Otero, Palencia
– Cathedral of Our Lord San Salvador, Jerez de la Frontera
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