The persecution of Christians has reached alarming levels, with a significant increase in violence, discrimination, and human rights abuses in various regions of the world. According to the 2025 World Religious Freedom Report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a pontifical foundation, serious violations are recorded in 62 countries, affecting more than 5.4 billion people. Systematic persecution exists in 24 of these countries, and Christians continue to be the most affected group. This reality includes massacres, forced displacement, and targeted attacks, but it faces a wall of silence from the media and international analysts, who often ignore or downplay these events, contributing to the impunity of the perpetrators.

The escalation of violence: Massacres and systematic attacks

Persecution is not an isolated phenomenon, but a global crisis. In sub-Saharan Africa, the Sahel has become the epicenter of jihadist violence: Burkina Faso recorded the highest number of terrorism-related deaths in the world (20% of the global total in 2024), with attacks destroying churches, displacing entire communities, and forcing priests and parishioners to flee. In Nigeria, thousands of Christians have been killed in attacks coordinated by armed groups, including radicalized Fulani herders and organizations like Boko Haram. In 2025, 24 priests were reported kidnapped (an increase from the previous year), two seminarians were killed, and entire communities were displaced.

In Asia, Pakistan and India stand out for blasphemy charges and anti-conversion laws that lead to mass arrests. Authoritarian regimes such as China, North Korea, Eritrea, and Iran are intensifying repression with confiscations of churches and prolonged arrests. In Nicaragua, arrests and expulsions of clergy persist. In the Middle East, the jihadist threat continues despite the territorial defeat of ISIS, forcing a constant exodus of Christians.

These patterns —perpetrated by state actors, terrorist groups and extremists— threaten the survival of entire Christian communities.

The wall of silence: Denial by international media and analysts

One of the most serious aspects is the media silence and international indifference. ACN denounces a “stubborn ignorance” in the West, where the religious nature of many attacks is minimized or denied. In Burkina Faso, heroic acts by the faithful protecting their priests receive scant coverage, while massive religious events go unnoticed. The international community rarely condemns those responsible firmly, allowing impunity.

In countries like Nigeria and the Sahel, those responsible for massacres and kidnappings face little international pressure. This lack of attention fosters the perpetuation of violence and exacerbates the suffering of victims. The report  Persecuted and Forgotten?  (2022-2024 edition, with updates in subsequent reports) summarizes this dynamic: Christians are not only persecuted but also forgotten amid narratives that prioritize other issues.

A call to action

The persecution and killing of Christians represent one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time. Religious freedom, recognized as a fundamental human right, is “in freefall,” according to ACN. Breaking the silence of the media and analysts is essential to generating global solidarity and protecting these communities. It is time to listen to the victims and act before more churches and faithful disappear into oblivion.

Sources and links

• Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025 – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN):  https://www.ayudaalaiglesianecesitada.org/informe-libertad-religiosa  (Complete analysis of 196 countries, with emphasis on persecution and discrimination).
• Regional Analysis: Sub-Saharan Africa 2025 – ACN:  https://www.ayudaalaiglesianecesitada.org/informe-libertad-religiosa/region-africa-subsahariana  (Details on Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali and the Sahel).
• ACN Report 2025: Decrease in arrests but increase in killings (includes Nigeria and Myanmar):  https://acn-global.org/informe-acn-2025-bajan-detenciones-suben-asesinatos
• Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for Their Faith (2022-2024 edition, basis for updates):  https://acninternational.org/persecuted-and-forgotten-a-christians-persecution-report
• International petition for religious freedom – ACN:  https://acninternational.org/petition  (Updated context on the global deterioration).
• News and updates on Burkina Faso and attacks on dioceses – ACN:  https://www.ayudaalaiglesianecesitada.org/noticias/burkina-faso-dos-diocesis-sufren-una-nueva-ola-de-ataques

These sources come directly from the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the main Catholic organization dedicated to documenting and supporting the persecuted Church throughout the world.