Pope Leo XIV warns of Christian persecution in Nigeria
Pope Leo XIV has named Nigeria among a list of countries where Christians are facing serious persecution and discrimination. In a recent Angelus address, he specifically mentioned Nigeria alongside nations like Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Sudan, citing frequent attacks on Christian communities and places of worship.
He appealed for global prayers, asking that violence stop and that “believers may work together for the common good.”
Pope Leo’s remarks also came in the context of a massacre in Benue State earlier this year, where hundreds of Christians many internally displaced and sheltering at a Catholic mission were reportedly killed. He prayed specifically for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria following that tragedy.
The pontiff’s message echoes findings by international religious freedom organisations. According to a recent report from the Pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need, Nigeria is among eight countries where persecution is driven by a mix of religious extremism and governance issues.
Christians in Nigeria have faced violence for years, and analysts say the crisis is multi-dimensional: it involves not just extremist attacks, but also communal tensions and weak governance.
