Pope Lists Nigeria as a Hotspot for Anti-Christian Persecution

Pope Lists Nigeria as a Hotspot for Anti-Christian Persecution

In a significant address, Pope Leo has issued a global call for peace, urging Christians everywhere to reject violence and work for the common good.

The pontiff offered special prayers for the families of victims of recent massacres in Kivu, DR Congo, bringing international attention to the plight of civilians in conflict zones.

His comments arrive amid intensifying global scrutiny of religious repression in Nigeria. For over a decade, the country’s churches, clergy, and Christian communities have faced relentless attacks from extremist groups and armed militias.

This troubling reality was formally recognized last month in a report from the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which listed Nigeria among two dozen nations where religious freedom is “seriously violated,” placing it in a category with countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

However, a nuanced perspective has been offered by the Vatican’s top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. He has cautioned against viewing the violence in Nigeria solely through a religious lens, pointing out that Muslim communities also suffer greatly from the same extremist actors who “make no distinctions.”

This analysis has been met with concern by some Catholic clergy within Nigeria, who argue that downplaying the religious dimension obscures the specific, targeted persecution experienced by Christian communities.

The international community remains alarmed. The United States recently reaffirmed its designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing ongoing religion-motivated attacks, a classification the Nigerian government firmly rejects, attributing the nation’s insecurity to criminality and governance failures rather than state-enabled persecution.

By adding his moral voice to the crisis, the Pope has increased pressure on both Nigerian authorities and global partners to take decisive action to protect all vulnerable communities and address the escalating threats to religious freedom.

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