- Cardinal Kurt Koch has been appointed as the new president of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a pontifical foundation dedicated to supporting persecuted and suffering Christians worldwide, as announced by ACN’s executive director, Regina Lynch, who expressed anticipation for his guidance in their mission.
- Koch, aged 75, takes over from Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, 81, who served as president since 2011 and was the first to lead the institution after it became a pontifical foundation, playing a crucial role in its development and initiatives.
- Lynch highlighted Cardinal Piacenza’s significant contributions, praising him as a “steady and trusted mentor and president” who strongly supported key ACN initiatives like “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” and various Middle East campaigns, demonstrating his dedication to suffering Christians.
- Cardinal Koch brings extensive experience from his roles as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and head of the Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism since 2010, indicating his expertise in ecumenical and interreligious relations.
- ACN emphasized that Koch’s background in ecumenical and interreligious relations is particularly valuable to their mission, especially in regions where Christians or Catholics constitute a minority, as it aligns with the foundation’s goal of fostering understanding and support across different faiths.
Aid to the Church in Need welcomes appointment of Cardinal Koch as its new president
