Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the escalating security challenges in Nigeria, as both Christians and Muslims have been victims of widespread killings linked to terrorism, economic pressures, and land disputes. The pontiff made remarks during a video that went viral on Friday, reportedly recorded in an interview in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and published by Catholic News Agency.
Answering a question whether Christians are safe in Nigeria amid growing allegations of genocide, Pope Leo XIV said: “In some areas, certainly there is a danger for Christians, but for all people. Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered.
He underscored that the crisis has a number of driving elements. “There’s a question of terrorism. There’s a question that has to do a lot with economics… and control of the lands that they have,” he explained, calling on the Nigerian government to take stronger steps to protect citizens and guarantee genuine religious freedom.
The Pope’s comments came in the wake of some earlier controversy involving Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who recently painted Nigeria’s violence as a social conflict between herders and farmers and not of a religious nature. Parolin, while addressing the launch of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report by Aid to the Church in Need, had been criticized for seemingly echoing official government narratives by various groups.
Pope Leo XIV also said extremist violence affects Muslims. “Many Muslims who come to Nigeria are victims of this intolerance groups that make no distinctions to advance their goals,” he said.
On Sunday, the Pope again mentioned Nigeria in a message about persecution of Christian communities worldwide, citing other countries such as Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Sudan. “God desires peace among all His children!” he wrote on X. These comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump recently redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians a claim the Nigerian government has strongly rejected. The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, on Thursday, held a hearing on the issue where experts, religious leaders and government officials expressed sharply divergent views.
