A pastor and founder of an unregistered church in a major Chinese city was detained on fraud charges. His wife reported that authorities are investigating financial donations from members. The arrest follows a large police operation earlier in the month. The wife claims the detention targets the church's lack of state registration, noting restrictions have existed for years. This incident reflects broader repression of independent Christian groups in China under current leadership, following similar detentions of other house church leaders in recent months.
Translated from PortuguêsAlso reported by 6 outlets
Pope Leo XIV met with bishops in Lima, Peru, on November 12, urging the Church to confront clerical abuse through truth, justice, and prevention. The Pontiff emphasized the need for a culture of protection for the vulnerable, referencing local saints as examples of humility. This address follows the 2025 suppression of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, an organization marked by severe abuse allegations. Before his election, Robert Francis Prevost served as a bishop in Chiclayo and worked on child protection. The Pope also met with survivors in Buenos Aires to listen to their stories and ensure the Church remains a safe space for all.
A major aid foundation released its latest report, stating that oppression of Christians has reached unprecedented levels in 18 studied nations. The document notes that approximately 220 million Christians are exposed to persecution, with conditions worsening in 55 percent of the analyzed countries. The report highlights severe violence in several African and Asian nations, citing terrorist attacks and forced conversions. It attributes the rise in hostility to nationalism, extremism, and anti-Western sentiment. The foundation is currently organizing awareness events in a European country to highlight these global religious freedom violations.
A faith-based community in Mozambique is praying for two teenagers who attended its peace school in a city near the capital. One boy was found murdered with mutilations, while the other remains missing. Police suspect ritualistic violence linked to witchcraft beliefs. A priest stated the group organized prayers for their safety. This tragedy highlights broader issues in the country, including witchcraft-related killings and the ongoing conflict in a northern province, which drives youth toward armed groups due to poverty. The community emphasizes the importance of civil registration and peace education to protect vulnerable children from such violence.
Authorities in Mozambique announced the arrest of a former soldier suspected of involvement in the June shooting death of a bishop. The operational team had been monitoring the suspect after evidence of his participation was found on seized devices. The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation into the clergyman's killing. Authorities continue to gather evidence to build their case against the detainee.
Translated from PortuguêsAlso reported by 2 outlets
Six women in Goiânia, Brazil, have accused Pastor Pablo Junio Godoi de Moura of the Assembly of God Ministry Fama of sexual abuse. One victim told police that the pastor claimed he was preparing her for marriage by forcing sexual contact. The pastor's defense denies the charges, alleging political motives within the church. The women obtained protective orders banning the pastor from approaching them. The church leadership stated it supports the judicial investigation. Police are urging other potential victims to file reports.
A foundation reports that persecution of Christians has worsened in 18 countries between 2024 and July 2026. The report highlights increased violence and restrictions in nations including Nigeria, Mozambique, China, Iran, and Nicaragua. In Africa, jihadist attacks and farmer-herder conflicts have displaced millions. In the Middle East, Syria has lost over 80 percent of its Christian population since 2011, raising fears of community disappearance. The foundation urges international attention to these crises and is launching a Red Week campaign in November to raise awareness and support affected believers.
A pastor was killed in the Central African Republic following an attack by armed men. The assailants targeted his brother's home and later intercepted him near a field. His wife escaped with their two children and reported the incident. Locals discovered his body the following morning. The violence has heightened local tensions, with reports of damage to a mosque and Muslim residences. Security forces were deployed to restore order. This event follows recent kidnappings of young Christians in the region. The Central African Republic ranks 32nd on the 2026 World Watch List for Christian persecution. Church leaders are urging reconciliation and non-retaliation among the community.
A Christian convert in Egypt faces the death penalty or 25 years in prison for apostasy. His fiancée reported that authorities tortured him and forced him to deny Jesus. Prosecutors seek the maximum sentence for charges including insulting Islam and terrorism, which the defense calls false. The case highlights Egypt's ban on leaving Islam. Coptic Solidarity warns the verdict could set a dangerous precedent for religious freedom in the country. The convert has been detained since July 2025.
Translated from PortuguêsAlso reported by 2 outlets
The international network Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) criticized Pope Leo XIV for holding a private meeting with five abuse survivors in Buenos Aires on Monday, outside the official agenda. The group argues this secrecy contradicts the Church's stated commitment to transparency and prevention. Representatives stated they do not know which cases were discussed or if perpetrators were prosecuted. The ECA represents victims in the 'Case of the 43' involving Opus Dei and abuse cases in Mendoza. They are calling for a public audience with the pontiff to ensure accountability and address ongoing abuses in Argentina.
Translated from PortuguêsAlso reported by 1 other outlet
The Southern Regional Council of the Missionary Indigenist Council (Cimi Sul) expressed concern and repudiation regarding a military police operation in Pontão, Rio Grande do Sul, on November 10, 2026. The group alleges that approximately 30 officers entered the Kaingang Aldeia Butiá – Fág Nor community without judicial warrants, conducting home searches and allegedly using discriminatory language against an indigenous person with a disability. Cimi Sul states that the operation, requested by the Federal Public Ministry to investigate animal mistreatment, violated constitutional protections of domicile and human dignity. The organization is calling for a rigorous investigation by the Military Police Corregedoria and the Federal Public Ministry to identify those responsible for the alleged abuses. (Source: racismoambiental.net.br)
Christians in Brazil are demanding the annulment of a question from the 2026 Enem exam regarding misogyny in medieval sermons. The item, based on historian Jean Delumeau, links religious discourse to moral disorder, a response marked correct by unofficial graders. Pastors and influencers argue the question biases students against Christianity. In Paraíba, Councilor Carlão filed a repudiation note, claiming the exam promotes religious intolerance. The National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) rejected the calls for cancellation, stating the task requires critical interpretation of historical sources rather than endorsement of the views presented.
A Christian convert and her husband escaped Iran after authorities summoned the wife to serve a five-year prison sentence for converting to Christianity. According to Open Doors partners, the couple left the country before the sentence was executed, avoiding detention in a notorious prison. This event follows the recent release of another convert, who received a pardon after serving part of her term. Iran ranks tenth on the 2026 World Watch List for Christian persecution, with Muslim-background believers facing significant risks of interrogation and imprisonment for their faith.
Felix Nmecha, a Christian footballer for Borussia Dortmund, faced backlash in Germany after celebrating two goals by symbolically placing a crown on the pitch for Jesus. The gesture, part of the Ballers in God campaign, drew criticism from fan groups citing the movement's conservative biblical stances on social issues. Although the club previously defended Nmecha against similar accusations, they now plan to discuss the matter with him. Nmecha clarified via social media that his intent was to honor Jesus and promote love, denying any aim to spread discrimination or hate.
Over 30 people were killed in an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Armed men invaded a community, killing residents, burning homes, and looting property. Initial reports indicated more than 30 civilian deaths. The violence forced many families, including Christians, to flee to neighboring areas for safety. The ADF, linked to the Islamic State, has been responsible for repeated attacks against civilians in the region. Local representatives confirmed the high death toll, highlighting the severe impact on the community.
Armed attacks against Christian communities in Jordan and Ethiopia have left approximately 70 people dead. In Jordan, gunmen killed at least nine and injured dozens during a funeral at a local church. Religious leaders condemned the violence, emphasizing inter-religious harmony. Meanwhile, in a region of Ethiopia, at least 60 people, including children and the elderly, were killed in separate assaults. Regional authorities blame rebel groups, raising fears of escalating religious conflict in the area. The incidents highlight the severe dangers faced by believers in these regions.
Thieves stole a copper plate from the facade of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmol in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A worker caught a suspect, who was taken to the police station. The removal damaged about 20 meters of the historic finish. Church official Marcus Paullus Passos told O Dia that repairs will cost around R$200,000 because the specific facade style requires extensive scaffolding and cannot be patched locally. The church, which served as the city's cathedral until 1976, stated this is the first such incident. Police are investigating the damage to this protected heritage site.
Christian leaders in Brazil criticized a question on the 2026 National High School Exam (Enem) that associated Christianity with misogyny. The exam text claimed that Protestant and Catholic theologies promoted discrimination against women. Pastors Issan Almada and Tatiane Joslin argued this constitutes an attack on faith and ideological indoctrination rather than objective assessment. They demanded that the exam present controversial topics with intellectual honesty and context, rather than forcing students to agree with specific interpretations. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about political bias in educational evaluations across the country.
Translated from PortuguêsAlso reported by 1 other outlet
A man was arrested in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after stealing a 20-meter copper sheet from the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmol of the Old Cathedral. The theft occurred early Tuesday morning when a maintenance worker spotted the suspect and alerted passing military police. Authorities recovered the material, which protects the historic building's structure from rain, and detained the individual at the 5th Police Station. The church, over 430 years old, is a protected heritage site that hosted significant royal ceremonies. Police conducted a forensic examination of the scene on Tuesday morning.
Translated from Português
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