Pope Leo XIV has named Nigeria as one of several countries where Christians continue to face discrimination and persecution.
In a message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, the Pope emphasized that peace is a divine virtue and called for global attention to the challenges confronting Christian communities around the world.
He noted that believers in countries such as Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and others are frequently subjected to targeted attacks, including assaults on worship centres and faith-based communities.
The Pope also offered prayers for families in Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where civilians were recently massacred, urging people of all nations to choose unity over violence.
His comments came amid ongoing international reports documenting the state of religious freedom in Nigeria.
Just last month, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)—a Pontifical foundation, listed Nigeria among 24 countries where religious freedom is “seriously violated.”
According to the report, persecution in countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen is often driven by a combination of authoritarian rule and religious extremism.
In response to mounting global concern, U.S. President Donald Trump recently redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to recurring reports of religious harassment.
The Nigerian government, however, has rejected the classification, maintaining that the nation remains a secular state committed to protecting the rights of all religions.
