ACN presented its 2025 Religious Freedom Report in a region of Spain. The 17th edition highlights that over 5.4 billion people live in states where religious freedom is severely violated. Presentations occurred in various localities within the region. Senior bishops urged attendees to sign a manifesto defending religious liberty. The report notes that 62 countries lack full religious freedom, citing persecution in Nigeria, Egypt, and other regions. The event aimed to raise awareness about global violations affecting Christians and other believers, emphasizing the urgent need for international solidarity and action to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.
Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Urbi et Orbi blessing, focusing on peace and reconciliation. He requested stability for several Middle Eastern and European nations, urging dialogue in Ukraine. The Pontiff highlighted victims of religious persecution in various African countries, including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also prayed for Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen, emphasizing compassion for those suffering from war and forced migration during the Jubilee of Hope. According to the outlet, the message aimed to comfort forgotten and vulnerable believers worldwide who face injustice and conflict.
ACN reports that Christians in Pakistan face significant discrimination and live in poverty, classifying the country as a site of persecution. In its 2025 Christmas campaign, ACN focuses on catechists who sustain local communities. The outlet highlights a catechist from a multi-generational family, who serves marginalized populations in rural areas. ACN states that these volunteers provide spiritual support and sacramental preparation despite legal and social challenges. The organization urges supporters to assist in training new catechists to continue this ministry in difficult contexts.
According to Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada (ACN), more than 2.8 million catechists sustain the faith globally, particularly in regions where priests are absent due to war, poverty, or persecution. In 2024, the foundation funded 805 training projects and provided 1,141 vehicles to help evangelizers reach remote areas. ACN also distributed over 844,000 religious texts, including Bibles in indigenous languages. The organization highlights the vital role of these lay leaders in maintaining Christian communities in difficult contexts, such as Burkina Faso, and continues its support through holiday campaigns to ensure their formation and sustenance.
Approximately 15 individuals were abducted during an assault on a church in a village in Kogi State, Nigeria. Armed bandits invaded the service and demanded ransom. This event follows a similar kidnapping in another location earlier in the year. Aid to the Church in Need reports that Christian communities are increasingly targeted by armed groups in Nigeria, which the organization classifies as a country facing persecution. Local authorities have not yet released an official casualty count. The violence reflects a broader escalation of insecurity affecting religious minorities in the region.
Between 2015 and 2025, at least 212 Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria, according to data shared with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). A study by the Nigerian Episcopal Conference documents these abductions across 41 dioceses, representing 70% of the country's ecclesiastical jurisdictions. While 183 victims were released or escaped, 12 were killed and three died from trauma. Four priests remain captive. The violence, driven by jihadist groups, Fulani militias, and criminal gangs, has forced many churches to close and displaced communities. ACN identifies Nigeria as one of the most dangerous countries for Christian clergy.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by redcharlie on UnsplashPersecuted church
In Gaza, Christians are preparing for Christmas amid an unstable peace and severe humanitarian difficulties. Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the Holy Family parish, states that while conditions have slightly improved since the ceasefire began, the situation remains critical. Over two million residents face shortages of electricity, clean water, and essential medicines. The parish continues to support tens of thousands of families and hosts over 400 refugees. Sami El-Yousef of the Latin Patriarchate warns that without radical changes, renewed violence is likely. The community relies on spiritual practices and external aid to maintain hope during the winter season.
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On November 27, the Catholic Association of Propagandists in Cádiz, Spain, hosted the presentation of the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World report. José María Gallardo, director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Spain, and Ana González Mauri discussed the findings. The report highlights that Christians face discrimination in one in six countries and persecution in one in ten. Gallardo warned about threats such as the cancellation culture, authoritarianism, and conflict. He emphasized that religious freedom requires active state guarantees rather than mere neutrality. The event included a Q&A session addressing local conscience issues and global challenges to minority rights.
Pope Leo XIV visited Lebanon on December 2, 2025, to offer hope to young people and the sick. In Beirut, he toured the Hospital de la Cruz, praising medical staff for their care of vulnerable patients amid the country's severe economic crisis. Later, he addressed thousands of youth in Bkerké at the Maronite Patriarchate, urging them to remain faithful and become builders of peace. The Catholic charity ACN highlighted its ongoing support for education and subsistence in the region, noting the emotional impact of the Pope's visit on local communities.
Pope Leo XIV visited Lebanon on December 1, 2025, meeting with clergy at the Shrine of Our Lady of Harissa. He urged Christians not to lose hope, recognizing their role as a bridge for dialogue in the region. The visit coincides with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) funding 7.5 million euros for over 200 projects in 2024. Archbishop Georges Bacouni highlighted the emotional impact of the papal trip, including a stop at the Beirut port explosion site. ACN supports subsistence, education, and energy projects to prevent Christian emigration amid Lebanon's economic collapse. The foundation notes Lebanon is the second most assisted country globally after Ukraine.
On December 3, 2025, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) participated in the “Human Dignity” conference at the European Parliament in Brussels. Organized by MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen and Davor Stier, the event focused on religious liberty and human rights. Marcela Szymanski presented ACN’s World Religious Freedom Report, highlighting rising persecution in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Tehmina Arora detailed severe abuses against minorities in India. Jan Figeľ urged the EU to appoint a special envoy for religious freedom, noting the current vacancy signals low priority for the issue among European institutions.
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At least four Christians were killed by insurgents in a region of Mozambique. A bishop reported that the attacks began recently, resulting in burned homes and kidnappings. The violence, linked to the Islamic State, has displaced approximately 128,000 people according to UN estimates. The area also faces a cholera outbreak. The Catholic Church is providing emergency aid while calling for both military action and international dialogue to address the crisis.
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Nigeria faces a surge in mass kidnappings across northern and central regions. A diocese in Niger State reported 265 hostages taken from a local school, including students and staff. Separately, approximately 25 girls were abducted from an educational institution in Kebbi State, where a deputy director was killed. Aid to the Church in Need notes that Nigeria is classified as a persecuted nation due to attacks by extremist groups. The US recently designated it a Country of Particular Concern, citing the government's failure to protect religious minorities from ongoing violence.
A major aid organization reports that global conflicts and organized crime are destroying religious liberty. Recent findings highlight attacks across multiple regions, including parts of Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Churches face closure, believers are displaced, and leaders are targeted. The organization states that religious persecution drives forced migration worldwide. These trends threaten the rights of millions of people across multiple regions, as violence and criminal groups suppress faith communities and their institutions.
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon from December 1 to 3, 2025. The trip aims to offer spiritual comfort to a nation exhausted by economic hardship and political instability. Marielle Boutros, a young Christian in Badaro, told ACN that the Pontiff's presence provides hope and reassurance that believers are not alone. She noted that the crisis affects daily life and faith testimony, prompting a call for more authentic witness. The visit is seen as a significant gesture of closeness for a country facing high emigration and social fatigue.
Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada (ACN) released its 2025 World Religious Freedom Report, highlighting a deterioration of religious liberty in OSCE countries. The foundation argues that a lack of systematic data obscures attacks against Christians, noting a 44% rise in arson in France, Germany, and Spain. ACN describes a phenomenon of 'educated persecution' where legal and cultural pressures marginalize believers. While the EU coordinates efforts against anti-Muslim hate, no equivalent mechanism exists for Christians. The report also documents rising antisemitism and anti-Islam incidents following the October 7 attacks, alongside severe violations in conflict zones like Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pope Leo XIV stated that Christians and Muslims face danger in Nigeria, citing recent massacres and kidnappings. He urged the government to promote genuine religious freedom amid terrorism and land control issues. The comments follow attacks in a northern region and the abduction of students in the northwest. ACN reports Nigeria is a persecuted country due to groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. The US designated Nigeria a country of special concern due to escalating violence against religious minorities.
The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need released its 2025 Religious Freedom Report, stating that 413 million Christians live in countries with severe religious restrictions. Approximately 220 million face direct persecution, meaning one in ten Christians worldwide is at risk. The organization highlights that aggression, property destruction, and displacement occur in dozens of nations. To raise awareness, ACN launched the #RedWeek 2025 campaign from November 15 to 23, illuminating landmarks in red across more than 100 events in countries like the UK, France, and Mexico. ACN Spain will join the campaign in 2026.
An archbishop in Spain presided over the presentation of a global religious freedom report at a Catholic university. He stated that religious liberty is the fundamental right supporting all others and serves as a key measure of a society's democratic quality. The report highlights that billions face threats to their faith. The archbishop encouraged attendees to sign a manifesto, which will be submitted to international institutions to urge governments to protect this right globally. The event underscored the local church's commitment to promoting belief as a pillar of democracy.
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