The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has identified Nigeria as one of the countries where Christians face repeated attacks, alongside Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Sudan.
On Sunday, the pontiff took to his official X account to express concern over the global rise in attacks on Christian communities and places of worship, urging prayers for peace and unity among all believers.
“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. God is a merciful Father who desires peace among all His children!” he wrote.
He also called for prayers for the families of Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where recent massacres claimed civilian lives.
“Let us pray that all violence may cease and that believers may work together for the common good,” the pontiff added.
Pope Leo’s remarks come amid international attention on Nigeria, following US President Donald Trump’s designation of the country as a
“Country of Particular Concern” on October 31 over alleged Christian genocide. Trump warned that if the Nigerian government fails to stop the killings, the United States may deploy troops “to wipe out the jihadists.”
The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected claims of systematic “Christian genocide,” describing them as false, misleading, and a distortion of the nation’s security challenges.
Meanwhile, US Congressman Riley Moore has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s assurances that Nigeria does not tolerate religious persecution, arguing that the situation on the ground contradicts the President’s statements.
