The “Night of the Witnesses” is a prayer vigil to honour priests, religious men and women murdered worldwide in 2021 for hatred of the Catholic faith.

Newsroom (24/01/2022 07:39 am, Gaudium Press) Starting January 22 and ending on January 28, the Pontifical Foundation “Aid to the Church in Need” is organizing five prayer vigils to honour priests, religious men and women murdered in 2021 for professing the Catholic faith.

“Night of the Witnesses” will take place in five French cities: Marseille, Albi, Cambrai, Chartres and Paris. The event is already in its 13th edition. This year, the focus will turn to three countries: Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Armenia.

Real testimonies

Fr. Janith Kusha from Sri Lanka will speak about the situation of Christians in the country. Fr. Kusha, along with the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, denounces the political involvement and inaction of the authorities in regards to the 2019 Easter bombing that claimed the lives of 267 people.

Representing the voice of Nigeria, Fr. Clément Emefu and Fr. Jean Suakor will testify about the alarming situation of Nigerian Catholics, often victims of Islamist groups. About 12,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria alone since 2015.

Bringing the spotlight to the tragic situation in Armenia, Sister Haguinta Muradin will share her testimony. Armenians face displacement from their homeland, while the Christian heritage is destroyed bit by bit. (FM)

With information from Aleteia.

Compiled by Gustavo Kralj