religious freedom

Study reveals 380 million Christians persecuted worldwide, top risk zones identified

The Open Doors organization has compiled the annual World Watch List 2025, ranking the most dangerous countries for Christians. A report covering the period from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, reveals that over 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith: 1 in 7 globally, 1 in 5…

Jan 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy gains official status in Italy

The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy is officially being recognized as a religion in Italy. Alfredo Mantovano, Undersecretary of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and Bishop Siluan signed the agreement on Monday at the Government State Office in Rome. The proposed law will now be presented to the Italian Parliament for approval. Key…

Jan 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Spanish Interfaith Dialogue Commission Opposes Repeal of Law Protecting Religious Sentiments

The Interfaith Dialogue Commission of Spain issued a statement on Tuesday expressing its disapproval of the proposed repeal of the law criminalizing offences against religious sentiments in Spain’s Penal Code. Among its members was His Grace Bishop Timotei, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Spain and Portugal. Concerns Over Legal Reform Religious representatives’ concerns arose after…

Dec 12, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel highlights importance of State-Religious dialogue for Romanian society

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church emphasized the crucial role of cooperation between the state and religious denominations during a meeting held at the Roman Catholic Episcopal Palace in Oradea on Tuesday. The event, part of the ongoing activities of the State-Religious Dialogue Commission, aimed to strengthen collaboration between the government and religious institutions.…

Oct 10, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Government, religious denominations consolidate their collaboration. Romania to establish Religious Freedom Day

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and other representatives of religious denominations officially recognised in Romania met with state representatives at the National Art Museum on Wednesday, April 10. The participants discussed aspects related to consolidating their collaboration at a social level. “Today, the Romanian Orthodox Church is convinced that in cooperation with state institutions, it can…

Apr 16, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

#RedWeek campaign raises awareness of Christian persecution worldwide

The #RedWeek campaign of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a 70-year-old Catholic initiative, unfolds between November 19 and 26, 2023: churches and famous monuments around the world are lit with red lights to draw attention to the persecution of Christians. The first edition of the #RedWeek campaign was in 2015, when the statue…

Nov 22, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel meets Turkey’s new Ambassador to Romania

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Romania, His Excellency Mr Özgür Kıvanç Altan, at the patriarchal residence in Bucharest on September 22, 2023. During the meeting, the Ambassador thanked for the warm welcome and expressed his joy to represent Turkey in a friendly country with…

Sep 26, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s name day: Religious freedom is the freedom to seek eternal life

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel celebrated his name day last Thursday, on the feast day of the Holy Prophet Daniel, holding a festive moment at the Europa Christiana Hall of the Patriarchate’s Palace. His Beatitude spoke about the service of the Church as a loving response to God’s unique calling. The Patriarch also stressed that religious…

Dec 22, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on Feast of St Demetrios the New: God works delicately through His Saints, but “cannot be mocked”!

During his sermon on Tuesday, Patriarch Daniel referred to two aspects of God’s presence and work in the world through Saint Demetrios the New: on the one hand, the delicacy and the miraculous help offered to the believers, on the other hand, the ‘bitter medicine’ administered to people for correction. The Patriarch of Romania highlighted…

Oct 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchate Spokesperson demands respect for most of the good and faithful people of the country: Pilgrimage is the expression of responsible religious freedom

The Romanian Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Vasile Bănescu commented on the decision to ban this year’s pilgrimage from Bucharest, on the patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral. The spokesman reminded that the pilgrimage is a manifestation of religious freedom and that pilgrims and the Romanian Orthodox Church deserve more respect and trust from the authorities. “The rigorously…

Oct 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania calls for Church-State co-responsibility and cooperation to avoid excessive measures

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania has urged co-responsibility and cooperation between the Church and the Romanian State after the pilgrimage to Iasi for the feast of Saint Parascheva was banned for non-locals. Call for co-responsibility and cooperation to avoid excessive constraints: full text The Romanian Patriarchate expresses its full solidarity with all Orthodox believers…

Oct 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu