The head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV, has named Nigeria among countries where Christians face frequent attacks, alongside Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Sudan.
Pope Leo called for prayers for harmony and peace among all believers on Sunday, expressing worry over frequent attacks on Christian communities and places of worship worldwide via his official X account.
“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.
Additionally, Pope Leo XIV asked for prayers for the families of Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where civilian lives have been lost in recent massacres.
Following US President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” on October 31 due to allegations of Christian genocide, the statement comes amid international scrutiny of Nigeria. Trump threatened to send troops “to wipe out the jihadists” if the Nigerian government did not halt the killings.
However, the Federal Government has consistently refuted allegations of a systematic “Christian genocide,” characterising them as untrue, deceptive, and a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s security issues.
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Meanwhile, US Congressman Riley Moore added to the controversy on Sunday by criticising President Bola Tinubu’s assertions that Nigeria does not support religious persecution, claiming that the President’s public remarks are at odds with the reality on the ground.
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