Italy
The new ACN Report on the dramatic condition of Christians in the world
The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) – Aiuto alla Chiesa che Soffre (ACS) has recently published the report “Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for Their Faith 2024–2026”, in which it noted a sharp deterioration in the conditions of Christians in most of the 18 countries examined. The report can be downloaded from the website of the Organization’s Italian section.
None of the countries analyzed (Burkina Faso, former Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Vietnam), countries that are particularly critical regarding freedom of worship, has in fact recorded an overall improvement.
Over the past two years, the persecution and oppression of Christians have worsened: in the 18 key countries considered, in fact, persecution has worsened in 55% of cases, driven by extremism, religious nationalism, and authoritarian regimes.
According to data collected by ACN, about 220 million Christians worldwide are directly exposed to severe forms of persecution, while over 413 million live in countries marked by severe restrictions on freedom of faith
The study highlights the intertwining of three oppressive forces: violent jihadist extremism, the pressure of religious nationalisms, and the suffocating grip of authoritarian regimes.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most dramatic epicenter of jihadist violence: in countries like Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali, Mozambique, and Sudan, armed groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda carry out massacres, kidnappings, destruction of places of worship, and forced displacement. In Nigeria as well, over one million Christians are among the three and a half million internally displaced persons, while in the Middle East, the Christian presence in historic lands like Syria — where the Christian population has dropped by over 80% since 2011 — appears seriously threatened in its very survival.
In Asia, intolerance and pressure take the form of religious nationalism: in India, there is a rise in “anti-conversion” laws and hundreds of incidents of violence against communities and churches, while in Pakistan, the tragedy of the abuse of blasphemy laws and the scourge of kidnappings and forced conversions of young women persist.
At the same time, in authoritarian regimes such as Nicaragua, China, and North Korea, state repression manifests through the expulsion of bishops and priests, the arbitrary closure of church institutions, censorship of online religious content, and detention in labor camps.
Faced with this humanitarian and spiritual emergency, the ACN report does not merely collect numbers, but gives voice to the stories and direct testimonies of victims and invites everyone to sign the Petition “Defend the Right to Believe: Global Appeal for Religious Freedom” addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations General Assembly, the President of the European Council, leaders of democratic governments, ambassadors, and diplomatic representatives.
The petition can be signed on the dedicated page of the ACN website
Source: Maria Lucia Ercole’s Newsletter
