SW News: The international foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has launched a number of initiatives during World Youth Day in Lisbon. These initiatives are intended to increase public awareness of Christian persecution across and inspire people to take action in defence of the suffering Church in their own countries.

ACN will host a number of activities to draw attention to the persecuted Church's reality around the world and the testimonials of faith it receives from nations with no religious freedom. These initiatives, which will take place throughout the city during WYD, are referred to as "Heroes in Faith."

The Martyrs Basilica in the Chiado area will host an exhibition featuring various Christian artifacts that were desecrated in Iraq, making it one of the primary locations where pilgrims and visitors will be able to come in contact with the realities of persecuted Christians. The exhibition depicts the horrific suffering endured by the nation's Christians after Islamic State extremists took control of the biblical Nineveh plains.

The Basilica will also host a conference hearing the testimonies of two Christians: Joseph Fadelle and Rafi Ghattas, who will narrate the persecution they suffered.

ACN Portugal has also organized a photography exhibition in the former Graça convent that depicts the world's persecuted Church through the real-life accounts of men and women from various nations who have shown their devotion to Jesus in the face of difficulty.

The organization is also screening a number of documentaries about people whose faith is constantly put to the test. These will be on display in the So Jorge movie theatre.

Catarina Martins de Bettencourt, the national director of ACN’s national office in Portugal, said in a press release that they want the young people to feel challenged by these examples of Christians who faced so many dangers and threats and who, despite everything, always continued to proclaim their faith until the end, no matter what the consequences.

She expressed a desire to be able to plant a seed in their hearts for helping and standing in solidarity with the Church in Need and persecuted Christians across the globe.