By Jonah McKeown
CNA Staff, Nov 21, 2024 / 13:05 pm
Catholic churches around the world were lit up in red on Wednesday as a display of solidarity with persecuted Christians.
Organized by the Christian aid group Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN), “Red Week” has been taking place in honor of persecuted Christians every November since 2016.
Ed Clancy, director of outreach for Aid to the Church in Need, emphasized in an interview this week with “EWTN News Nightly” the increasing persecution of Christians around the world documented in a recent ACN report.
Spurred in large part by the 2014 destruction of the ancient Christian community in Iraq by the so-called Islamic State, Red Wednesday aims to draw attention to this pressing issue by illuminating cathedrals, churches, and public buildings in red.
Clancy told “EWTN News Nightly” that the day of solidarity coincides with the period leading up to the feast of Christ the King, contrasting the commercial focus of Black Friday with a call to recognize and support persecuted Christians globally.
He noted that approximately 1 in 7 Christians globally face persecution. He identified regions such as Pakistan, Nigeria, the Sahel region of Africa, Egypt, and India as areas where Christian persecution is particularly severe and on the rise.
He urged the faithful to support persecuted Christians through prayer and awareness-raising efforts like Red Wednesday.
This year more than 300 official Red Wednesday events were held in 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Ireland, Malta, the Philippines, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia.
Here’s a look at some of the church and government buildings that were lit up on Wednesday.
Wow - St Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast, lit in red to highlight the persecution of Christians ahead of the @ireland_acn #RedWednesday tomorrow. You can show your support by using the hashtag #RedWednesday pic.twitter.com/y8BVSQSjZC
Persecuted Christian children remembered on Red Wednesday https://t.co/TYAmYz7B11
Today is #RedWednesday, an annual initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the persecution of Christians around the world. We invite you to join us in #prayer for all Christians who are persecuted because of their faith. pic.twitter.com/QhvTqQyK1o
(Story continues below)
As the sun sets over London, the Abbey is lit up for #RedWednesday, when we remember persecuted Christians and others who suffer for their beliefs around the world. You can find out more about Red Wednesday and how to support the campaign at:https://t.co/uhKy1CpL5o pic.twitter.com/RV0Mjge50i
Today is Red Wednesday. We join in prayer and solidarity today with persecuted Christians all over the world. #WeekofWitness #RedWednesday pic.twitter.com/vHuuuHYJkk
That’s really red! For #persecuted #Christians @acn_uk #RedWednesday @LondonOrat pic.twitter.com/5OxryBOwJK
Today, we light up The Cathedral in red for Red Wednesday; showing our support against persecuted Christian’s worldwide, pic.twitter.com/Y6rvUZF2Dh
Mit einem rot beleuchteten Dom setzt Fulda zur "Red Wednesday"-Woche ein Zeichen für Religionsfreiheit. Höhepunkte sind ein ausverkauftes Konzert und Veranstaltungen über bedrängte Glaubensgemeinschaften weltweit. https://t.co/3r2x8JJahE
La cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris et la basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre seront illuminées en rouge ce mercredi soir.→ https://t.co/461ST3dvTw pic.twitter.com/IwzTlPtkfk
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France has been lit up in red to mark Red Wednesday, Aid to Church in Need's annual campaign for persecuted Christians.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
