In a recent post on X, Pope Leo XIV named Nigeria as one of several countries where Christians “suffer discrimination and persecution,” calling for peace as a “heavenly virtue.”
He wrote: “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!…Let us pray that all violence may cease and that believers may work together for the common good.”
His remarks come amid mounting international concern over the targeting of Christian communities in Nigeria, an issue that has sparked heated debate both abroad and at home.
Last month, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Papal foundation, released a report identifying Nigeria among 24 countries where religious freedom is “seriously violated.”
According to the report, persecution in Nigeria is driven by a “combination of authoritarian governance and religious extremism.”
The ACN report cited the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and radicalised herders, noting attacks on churches, villages, and Christian leaders.
On the sidelines of the ACN report launch in Rome, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, offered a more nuanced interpretation.
He argued the violence in Nigeria is “not a religious conflict” but rather rooted in deeper social problems such as land disputes.
He warned against portraying the crisis solely as persecution of Christians, saying: “We should also recognise that many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance … These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they see as an opponent.”
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, speaking at the same event, stressed the complexity of the situation.
While acknowledging “conditions for ‘genocide’ in certain communities,” he cautioned that blanket condemnation could undermine fragile interfaith trust.
The Nigerian Federal Government has strongly rejected claims that Christians are being targeted in a state-sponsored campaign.
In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via Acting Spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, described the allegations as “misinformation” designed to influence foreign governments — particularly the United States — to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC).
The Ministry acknowledged the security crisis but insisted that violence in Nigeria is not religiously motivated.
It stated that most incidents of insurgency and banditry in northern Nigeria are not directed at any specific religious group.
It described Nigeria as a “multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation … committed to protecting all citizens, irrespective of faith, ethnicity or gender.”
It called on the international community to verify information before drawing broad conclusions, emphasising that Nigeria remains “a beacon of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar reiterated this point in a briefing to the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja, stating that constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion are “deeply embedded in both our Constitution and national ethos.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has challenged the government to publicly expose what it described as a “false and treasonable campaign” portraying Nigeria as committing genocide against Christians.
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