Pope Leo XIV has identified Nigeria as one of the countries where Christians continue to face discrimination and violent attacks. The pontiff made the remark in a message shared on Sunday via his official X account, calling for an end to global religious violence and urging believers to work together for peace.
“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,” he wrote.
Describing peace as a “heavenly virtue,” the pope expressed solidarity with victims of recent violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“God is a merciful Father who desires peace among all His children! I accompany in prayer the families of Kivu… where in recent days there has been a massacre of civilians,” he added.
“Let us pray that all violence may cease and that believers may work together for the common good.”
The pope’s comments come amid ongoing reports of religiously motivated violence in Nigeria. Last month, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Pontifical foundation, released a report naming Nigeria among 24 countries where religious freedom is “seriously violated.” According to the document, persecution in countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen stems from a combination of authoritarian governance and religious extremism.
However, during the report’s presentation in Rome, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin cautioned against framing Nigeria’s insecurity purely along religious lines.
“We should also recognise that many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance,” Parolin said.
“These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they see as an opponent.”
His remarks have sparked pushback from some Catholic clerics who argue that the scale of Christian targeting should not be minimized.
Amid the debate, U.S. President Donald Trump has re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC), citing persistent reports of religious persecution. The Nigerian government, however, has rejected the designation, insisting that Nigeria remains a secular state committed to protecting all faiths.
