Amidst the silence of most international public opinion, the Pope’s voice was raised to raise attention to the plight of Christians in these countries. Nigeria and Cameroon. In fact, two days ago, 315 people including students and teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic school. Mary at Papiri by the command of 60 armed militia. The burglary occurred at night, between 02.00 and 03.00. Always these days kidnapped 7 religious in North West Cameroon, 6 of them Catholic and one Baptist priest.
Pope’s words
The recent events are just the latest in a situation that has been going on for years, especially in Nigeria and even American President Donald Trump has publicly condemned it by talking about “Embarrassed” and from “genocide” therefore “very angry”. Today it was Leo XIV’s turn to talk about this to Angelus, saying that he had done it “I learned with great sadness the news about raspirations of priests, congregation and students in Nigeria and Cameroon.” “I really feel the pain – said Prevost – especially for the many kidnapped boys and girls and for their suffering families.” A crime reminiscent of the kidnapping of 276 students from Chibok by the Islamist group Boko Haram in 2014. The Pope appealed “The hostages were immediately released and I urge the authorities to take adequate and timely decisions to guarantee their safety release“. In fact, local bishops have long reported that they were abandoned by authorities who did not adequately prosecute the attackers. Leo XIV also asked for prayers that “churches and schools will continue to exist wherever they are a place of safety and hope“. Shortly before, the Prevost had celebrated the final mass on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Choir and Choir.
Persecution
Nigeria is now one of the most dangerous places in the world for those who follow the Christian religion. The NGO Open Doors World Watch List 2025 reported in its recent report that of the 4,476 Christians killed recently on the planet, almost 70% lost their lives in Nigeria. Since 2009, I Islamic jihadists they massacred more than 50,000 Christians in Nigeria and destroyed more than 20,000 churches, schools and other Christian institutions. Numbers that set off alarm bells in the White House: Michael Waltz, White House permanent representative United States of America at the UN, he condemned violence against Nigerian Christians during the last security council on West Africa and said the US called on the Nigerian government to “do more to protect your people from these atrocities.” Trump indicated Nigeria as a region at risk to religious freedom and therefore publicly thanked the Bishop of Makurdi Wilfred Anagbeone of the most active groups opposing anti-Christian persecution and has also been the victim of threats in the past.
The African prelate has been at the forefront of condemning violence and attacks by Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa Province as well as Fulani herdsmen gangs.
