Femi Ashekun/
Pope Leo XIV has raised fresh global concern over the safety of Christians in Nigeria, naming the country among those experiencing “discrimination and persecution” in a sombre message shared on X.
The pontiff said he was thinking especially of nations such as Bangladesh, Mozambique, Sudan and Nigeria, where attacks on Christian communities and places of worship continue to be reported with disturbing frequency.
He appealed for an end to violence and prayed for victims of recent atrocities, including the massacre of civilians in Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His remarks come at a time when Nigeria faces heightened international scrutiny over the treatment of its Christian population.
The issue gained renewed global prominence after United States President, Donald Trump, redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern on grounds of what he described as “Christian genocide.”
Trump accused extremist elements of orchestrating widespread killings, warning that thousands of Christians had been murdered and threatening U.S. military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to act decisively.
He also ordered American defence and diplomatic agencies to prepare options that could include sanctions or the suspension of U.S. aid.
The matter has since moved to the U.S. Congress, where the House of Representatives has begun a full investigation into alleged large-scale persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Lawmakers have cited testimonies from clergy and rights groups, alongside years of reports documenting attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP and armed militias in parts of the country’s north and Middle Belt.
Advocacy organisations such as Open Doors and International Christian Concern have long identified Nigeria as a global epicentre of Christian martyrdom, often reporting the world’s highest numbers of believers killed, kidnapped or displaced.
Nigeria’s government has repeatedly denied accusations of a targeted genocide, insisting that violence affects citizens of all faiths and is driven by a complex mix of terrorism, banditry, criminality and long-running communal rivalries.
Officials have also rejected Trump’s threat of military action, calling it a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty and a mischaracterisation of the country’s security challenges.
Pope Leo’s intervention adds significant moral weight to ongoing international concern. By publicly identifying Nigeria among countries where Christians face persecution, he has intensified the pressure on global powers and Nigerian authorities alike to confront the crisis more urgently.
His appeal for peace, he said, was rooted in the belief that God desires harmony among all people and that believers must work together for the common good.
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