Aid to the Church in Need is launching its annual Night of the Witnesses prayer vigil tour on Friday, November 13, 2026, bringing voices from Mexico and Burkina Faso to highlight the realities of Christian persecution worldwide.
The six-day series of prayer vigils runs through Thursday, November 19, 2026. It features testimonies from individuals living on the front lines of hostility and violence, putting a human face on systemic conflict.
Pope Leo XIV recently emphasized the urgency of these accounts. He noted that many believers carry the same cross in hostile contexts, serving as a living prophecy of the victory of good over evil.
Priests and Sisters Face Violence in Burkina Faso and Mexico
Father Jean-Pierre Keita ministers in the diocese of Nouna in Burkina Faso, right on the border with Mali. His region has faced repeated attacks from the terrorism that has gripped the country since 2015.
Despite surviving multiple security incidents, Father Keita refuses to embrace vengeance. He often tells his community, The devil is stirring, but the Victory is secured, it is Christ who will win!
Sister Paola Clericó Medina works with the Congregation of Jesus-Marie in Mexico. For more than a decade, she has accompanied women searching for missing family members amid armed groups’ violence.
When a mother recovers a loved one’s remains from a clandestine grave and prays over the site, the atmosphere shifts. Suddenly, this place of death is transformed into a place of tenderness, respect, love,
Sister Paola stated.
Organizers Read Names of Killed Religious Figures During Vigils
During each vigil, organizers read the names of priests, monks, and nuns killed over the past year. Their portraits are carried in procession to the altar amid songs and meditation.
Created in France in 2010, the Night of the Witnesses has expanded internationally. Similar gatherings now take place in Spain, Mexico, Croatia, Belgium, Australia, and the United States.
| Country | Key Witness | Local Context |
|---|---|---|
| Burkina Faso | Father Jean-Pierre Keita | Terrorism and Nouna diocese |
| Mexique | Sœur Paola Clericó Medina | Groups armés and families searching for missing persons |
Organizers frame the nationwide and international events as a dual mission. They aim to pray for those risking their lives while reviving the faith of communities through direct testimony.
