Christians in Nigeria experience discrimination and persecutions — Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV has pointed out Nigeria as one of the nations where Christians are increasingly facing discrimination and persecution. In a message posted on his official X account on Sunday, he underscored the significance of peace as a divine quality and brought attention to the challenges believers confront worldwide.

He remarked that Christians in various areas suffer from targeted violence, specifically citing Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and other nations where attacks on places of worship and faith communities are commonly reported.

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The Pope also prayed for families in Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where civilians were recently killed en masse, urging for unity and a denouncement of violence. His comments coincide with ongoing reports of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Last month, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Pontifical foundation, included Nigeria among 24 countries where religious freedom is “seriously violated.” The report indicated that in countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen, persecution is often fueled by a combination of authoritarian rule and religious extremism.

In light of global concerns, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to ongoing reports of religious harassment. The Nigerian government has dismissed this classification, asserting that the country remains a secular state.