Pope Leo XIV laments religiously motivated violence, terrorist attacks on Christians in Nigeria, others

Pope Leo XIV, on Friday, lamented the increasing cases of “religiously motivated violence” and terrorist attacks against Christians across the globe, specifically mentioning Nigerian Christians among those persecuted for their faith.

The leader of the Catholic Church, in his address to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See at the Hall of Benediction, urged all nations to guarantee full freedom of religion and worship to each of their citizens, highlighting the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, Bangladesh, and other parts of the world.

“Here, I would especially call to mind the many victims of violence, including religiously motivated violence in Bangladesh, in the Sahel region and in Nigeria, as well as those of the serious terrorist attack last June on the parish of Saint Elias in Damascus. Nor do I forget the victims of jihadist violence in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique,” the Pontiff said.

The cleric described the persecution of Christians as one of the most widespread human rights crises that can no longer be overlooked, lamenting that Christians “suffer high or extreme levels of discrimination, violence and oppression because of their faith.”

“It cannot be overlooked that the persecution of Christians remains one of the most widespread human rights crises today, affecting over 380 million believers worldwide,” Pope Leo XIV said.

He added, “This phenomenon impinges on approximately one in seven Christians globally, and it worsened in 2025 due to ongoing conflicts, authoritarian regimes and religious extremism. Sadly, all of this demonstrates that religious freedom is considered in many contexts more as a “privilege” or concession than a fundamental human right.”

The Pontiff’s statement comes amid a sustained campaign against the genocide of Christians in Nigeria, championed by U.S. government officials.

U.S. President Donald Trump had designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and ordered strikes against terrorists in Sokoto last Christmas Day, while insisting on further action should terrorists continue to target and kill Christians in Nigeria.