Pope Leo Flags Nigeria Among Nations Where Christians Face Persecution

Pope Leo XIV has listed Nigeria among countries where Christians face persecution and discrimination, urging prayers for peace and coexistence.

In a post on X on Sunday, the pontiff emphasized the need for peace as a core heavenly virtue. “In various parts of the world, Christians suffer discrimination and persecution. I think especially of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and other countries where attacks on communities and places of worship are frequent,” he wrote.

“God is a merciful Father who desires peace among all His children! I accompany in prayer the families of Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where civilians have recently been massacred. Let us pray that all violence may cease and that believers may work together for the common good,” the pope added.

The comments come amid persistent reports of attacks on Christians in Nigeria. Last month, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Pontifical foundation, released a report ranking Nigeria among 24 countries where religious freedom is “seriously violated.”

“The nature of persecution varies across contexts. In eight countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen—it stems from a mix of authoritarian governance and religious extremism,” the report noted.

On the sidelines of the report’s presentation in Rome, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, downplayed the purely religious narrative in Nigeria’s insecurity. “Many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this intolerance. Extremist groups do not discriminate; they target anyone they perceive as an opponent,” he said.

The statement has sparked reactions among Catholic clergy. Meanwhile, the US government has re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) due to ongoing reports of persecution. The Nigerian government, however, reiterated that the nation remains secular.