Pope appoints new president of ACN

Cardinal Koch greeting Peter Humeniuk, one of ACN's Eastern Europe project heads, at February 2019 ecumenical conference in Moscow © ACN.

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Kurt Koch as international president of a Catholic charity that works in more than 130 countries. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) welcomed the appointment of the cardinal as its new international president.

Regina Lynch, executive president of ACN (International), said: "We very much look forward to having Cardinal Koch as our president, and to the guidance he can bring to our mission to persecuted and suffering Christians all over the world. We are grateful to Pope Leo for this appointment and interest in our work."

As international president, Cardinal Koch will shepherd ACN's mission and chair the supervisory board, which includes bishops from countries where the Church is suffering.

The cardinal has worked closely with ACN - particularly the charity's Swiss and German offices, taking part in conferences and leading pilgrimages.

Cardinal Koch was born in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland in 1950. He studied in Germany and Switzerland before being ordained to the priesthood in 1982.

Pope John Paul II appointed him as Bishop of Basel in 1995. In 2010 Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal and appointed him as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and president of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. That same year Pope Benedict also nominated Cardinal Koch to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Under Pope Francis he became a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Congregation for Bishops in 2013.

He is also a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

Cardinal Koch, 75, replaces 81-year-old Cardinal Mauro Piacenza who headed ACN for 14 years.

Cardinal Piacenza was appointed as the charity's first president by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011when ACN became a pontifical foundation.

Ms Lynch said: "In Cardinal Piacenza ACN always had a steady and trusted mentor and president. The cardinal showed keen interest in our work and guided us with his advice and assistance."

She added: "Cardinal Piacenza was always a great supporter of ACN initiatives, such as the One Million Children Praying the Rosary and the Middle East campaigns, and we are very grateful for his service to suffering and persecuted Christians. He is, and will remain always, in our prayers."

ACN helps Christians in 138 countries supporting more than five thousand projects every year.

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org