Skip to content

Christian persecution is real - emotional exhibit opens in Rome

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
Nobody should have to die because of their faith.

Aid to the Church in Need has opened an exhibit in Italy where visitors can share the experience of Christian persecution.

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Christian persecution happens far away from us. We may complain about the atheists or the satanists and their displays, or a lack of public prayer, but this isn't the hard persecution many Christians face. For most of us, Christian persecution is a remote possibility.

However, for many millions of others, persecution is a daily reality. The threat of discrimination, abuse, kidnapping and even death is a genuine possibility.


Christians living in parts of Africa, Asia and especially in the Middle East routinely face the prospect of death. And as we learned with Fr. Jacques Hamel, even here, in the "civilized" western world, persecution occasionally takes place.

Making this real for Christians is a challenge. Most people are so accustomed to bad news that nothing shocks them anymore. The wholesale slaughter of Christians is just another news item that plays before the sports scores.

Yet, millions of Christians deserve to practice their faith without fear of dying for it. Those who have been displaced or harmed deserve relief.

To communicate this, Aid for the Church in Need, which is the direct, charitable arm of the pope, has established an exhibit.

The exhibit, which is on display in Rome, is filled with artifacts from people who were killed for their faith. A teddy bear. A child's swing. A few desks belonging to students killed in a bombing. A table from a restaurant.

Visitors then walk through a dark tunnel where they see pictures of those recently killed for their faith. Jacques Hamel, the Italian priest, Andrea Santoro, and many others who are less well known.

The point of the exhibit is to renew awareness that Christian persecution is real and that fellow Christians need help. Aid to the Church in Need and many other charities continue the humanitarian mission of the Church in spite of the many threats.

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.