Amid campaign against Christian genocide in Nigeria, Pope Leo XIV has raised the alarm over Christian persecution in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
The pontiff, in a statement on Sunday, lamented frequent attacks on Christians and their places of worship in Nigeria amid global outrage sparked by a campaign led some U.S. lawmakers.
He said, “In various parts of the world, Christians suffer discrimination and persecution. I think especially of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and other countries from which we frequently hear of attacks on communities and places of worship.’’
Calling for prayers for Christians persecuted around the world, the cleric said “Let us pray that all violence may cease and that believers may work together for the common good.”
The Pope’s statement highlights concerns over alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria led by U.S. lawmakers, Ted Cruz, Nancy Mace, Riley Moore and others.
In October, U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” — But that is the least of it.
Trump subsequently threatened troop deployment to Nigeria to combat terrorists killing Christians in Nigeria if Mr Bola Tinubu government failed to act fast to stop the killings.
The Nigerian government has since denied that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria.
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