The international papal charity was recognized for its humanitarian and pastoral support of persecuted Christians.
Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and president of the Path to Peace Foundation, has announced that Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be the 2019 recipient of the Path to Peace Award.
The Holy See Mission said it has chosen to honor the international papal charity in recognition of its humanitarian and pastoral support of persecuted Christians.
The Path to Peace Foundation supports various aspects of the work of the Holy See Mission to the UN. The Foundation also funds humanitarian projects in developing countries.
Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern, executive president of ACN International will be accepting the Award at the annual Path to Peace Gala Dinner May 22, 2019, in New York.
Previous recipients of the Path to Peace Award include Cardinal Mario Zenari, papal nuncio to Syria; Supreme Knight Carl Anderson of the Knights of Columbus; and Queen Sofia of Spain.
“It is a great honor for Aid to the Church in Need to receive this prestigious Award,” said
Mr. George Marlin, chairman of ACNUSA. He added: “This recognition of our work on behalf of the suffering and persecuted Church around the world is also a tribute to the generosity and faithfulness of our donors.”
Founded in 1947 by a young Dutch Norbertine Priest, Father Werenfried van Straaten
(1903 -2003), to help meet the needs of refugees and displaced people in post-World War II Germany, ACN supports more than 5,000 projects each year in more than 140 countries.
Projects include the construction of churches and chapels; support for the training of seminarians, men and women religious as well as lay catechists; emergency aid; and transportation for clergy and religious.
Last year, ACN donors gave more than $100M in aid. Since 2011, ACN has provided more than $70M to support Syrian and Iraqi Christians threatened by ISIS and other Islamist groups, ensuring the survival of Christianity in the region.
The Path to Peace Gala Dinner will be held from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. on May 22, 2019, at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, 61st Street and Fifth Ave. All are invited. To register to attend, please click here.
