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Pope Leo XIV has listed Nigeria among countries where Christians face discrimination and persecution, alongside Bangladesh, Mozambique, Sudan, and others.
The pontiff made the remarks on Sunday via his official X account, expressing concern over frequent attacks on Christian communities and places of worship. He urged prayers for peace and solidarity among all believers.
“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.
Pope Leo also called for prayers for the families of Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where recent massacres claimed the lives of civilians. “Let us pray that all violence may cease and that believers may work together for the common good,” he added.
The pope’s statement echoes concerns previously raised by US President Donald Trump, who re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) due to reports of religious persecution. However, the Nigerian federal government has rejected this classification, affirming that the country remains secular.
The United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, who is leading investigations into the alleged ‘genocide of Christians’ in Nigeria, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu is in a difficult position and is trying to protect his interests.
Moore, speaking in an interview on Fox News on Sunday, stated this while reacting to Tinubu’s recent comments earlier this month that “Nigeria is a country of religious freedom and tolerance with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
“Unfortunately, that is completely false; there are states in Nigeria that have blasphemy laws, people facing the death penalty right now for blasphemy against Islam,” Moore said.
“There is a person currently right now who is held in prison for defending himself from an attack by a Muslim militant from the Fulani tribe.
“He defended himself, and he is facing the death penalty. So there is serious persecution happening in Nigeria, and I know the President Tinubu is in a difficult position and trying to protect his interests.”
