“Nobody was disrespectful. Certainly there were people who were indifferent, people who did not know exactly what was going on, but there were people who stopped and blessed themselves and wanted a blessing,” Bishop Cullinan said.

Eighty percent of all acts of religious persecution around the world today are being committed against Christians – Archbishop Eamon Martin.

ACN points out that 80 per cent of people persecuted throughout the world are Christians. This amounts to 245 million Christians who face extreme persecution for their faith.

We will provide the opportunity for the faithful to gather as a community and pray not only for persecuted Christians – but also for the persecutors of Christians (ACN Ireland).

More than 245 million Christians live in a place where they experience high levels of persecution – IDOP.

“It is an encouragement that these issues are finally being recognised at the right level.”

Pope Francis emphasises ecumenical dimension of the charismatic movement, rooted in a common baptism. Unity among Christians must begin with prayer.

Persecution is intensifying, Archbishop Neary warns, with ancient Christian communities driven from their lands through ethnic cleaning.

Western military intervention is the only viable option in the fight against Nigerian militants, who are now allied to Islamic State.