The impact of violence, persecution and exodus on Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere is highlighted in a wide-ranging report ‘Persecuted and Forgotten?’ which is due to be released in Malta by Aid to the Church in Need, a leading Catholic charity.

The launch of the report will take place at Madonna tal-Karmnu hall, Birkirkara, on Saturday at 10am.

Fr Kjalil Jaar, who in 2002 received the Robert P.W. Pierce Award for Christian Services and Reconciliation, will be the key speaker.

Fr Jaar is well known for his humanitarian work in Iraq for over 25 years. In 1990 he was in charge of Mercy Camp, close to the Iraqi border, where over 40,000 people took shelter after the first Gulf crisis.

He runs a humanitarian programme that offers medical assistance in hospitals abroad for seriously ill Iraqi children. Through his organisation Messengers of Peace, Fr Jaar is currently also providing medical assistance, food and education in refugee camps in Jordan, where families from Syria, Iraq and other Middle East regions have sought refuge from IS.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, has sent ACN the following message from Pope Francis offering his support: “His Holiness deeply appreciates the efforts of all involved in producing this report and in keeping before the world the plight and suffering of Christians persecuted for their faith.”

The report assesses the situation in 22 countries where there are grave violations of religious freedom, including physical attacks, kidnappings and murders. It makes a direct comparison with the situation two years ago.

Previous research by ACN had already shown Christianity to be the world’s most persecuted religion.