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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Religious Freedom

Aid to the Church in Need reports 220 million Christians face persecution worldwide

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

A report from the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) states that 220 million Christians worldwide are directly exposed to persecution, discrimination, and violence. The report, titled "Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for Their Faith 2024-2026," covers the period from August 2024 to June 2026. It finds that conditions for Christians worsened in approximately 55% of the 18 countries examined, and none of those countries recorded an overall improvement.

The study notes that 413 million Christians live in nations where serious violations of religious freedom occur, placing them at risk. Persecution takes various forms, including arbitrary arrests, discriminatory laws, restrictions on worship, confiscation of Church property, kidnappings, forced conversions, sexual violence, torture, and murder. In many instances, these actions target specific regions where the state is unable or unwilling to protect minorities.

The report identifies extremist violence, authoritarian governments, and religious nationalism as primary drivers of pressure on Christian communities. Africa remains a major center of violence, while growing concerns exist regarding conditions in Asia and forced displacement. Conflict in Africa and Asia is driving many Christians to flee their homes.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

5 sources49 reports16 languages

Read it in English · Français · Shqip · Español · Italiano · Polski · العربية · Português · Svenska · ಕನ್ನಡ · BE · Čeština · Slovenčina · Tiếng Việt · HY · ትግርኛ

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Earlier version, Friday 30 October

Aid to the Church in Need reports 220 million Christians face persecution

Earlier version, Friday 30 October

Aid to the Church in Need releases report on Christian persecution

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 27, 3:30 AM Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales Global report warns that violence and extremism are fuelling a Christian exodus
  2. Oct 27, 5:27 AM Crux New report says extremism is forcing Christians from their homes
  3. Oct 27, 7:55 AM Église catholique en France Français « Persécutés et oubliés ? », le rapport bisannuel de l’Aide à l’Église en détresse sur la situation des chrétiens opprimés pour leur foi
  4. Oct 27, 5:16 AM Aleteia Study: Christian persecution worsening in most of already bad cases
  5. Oct 27, 5:30 AM Aid to the Church in Need Persecution of Christians worsens in almost 56% of countries studied, with none improving
  6. Oct 27, 7:49 AM Vatican News Shqip Përndjekja e të krishterëve në Lindjen e Mesme po përkeqësohet
  7. Oct 27, 8:59 AM Aleteia Español En 18 países, la persecución de los cristianos empeora
  8. Oct 27, 6:25 AM Vatican News Italiano Rapporto ACS, 220 milioni di cristiani vittime di violenze e persecuzioni nel mondo
  9. Oct 27, 10:30 PM Niedziela Polski Blisko 220 mln chrześcijan na świecie jest narażonych na prześladowania
  10. Oct 27, 9:27 AM CathoBel Français Massacres, enlèvements, conversions forcées… Plus de 220 millions de chrétiens exposés à la persécution
  11. Oct 27, 5:14 AM Agenzia SIR Italiano Cristiani perseguitati: Rapporto Acs, dall’Africa all’Asia, 220 milioni a rischio
  12. Oct 27, 8:50 AM Diocese of Cremona Italiano Cristiani perseguitati. Rapporto Acs: dall’Africa all’Asia, 220 milioni a rischio
  13. Oct 27, 5:08 AM RomaSette Italiano Peggiora la condizione dei cristiani in gran parte del mondo
  14. Oct 27, 5:13 PM Catholic News Agency Christian persecution worsened in 55% of countries assessed, report finds
  15. Oct 27, 5:00 AM Aleteia Français Lois répressives, djihadisme et exil forcé : l’étau se resserre sur les chrétiens
  16. Oct 27, 4:02 PM Aleteia Polski Represyjne prawo, dżihadyzm i przymusowe wysiedlenia. Prześladowania chrześcijan przybierają na sile
  17. Oct 27, 2:13 AM ACI Africa Christian Persecution Worsened in 55% of Countries Assessed, Report Finds
  18. Oct 27, 9:54 PM InfoVaticana Español La persecución contra los cristianos empeora en diez países y afecta directamente a 220 millones de fieles
  19. Oct 28, 12:57 AM Alfa y Omega Español La persecución contra los cristianos se recrudece en todo el mundo
  20. Oct 27, 5:00 PM Abouna Christian persecution worsens in much of the world, according to new ACN report
  21. Oct 28, 3:19 AM ACI MENA العربية تقرير دوليّ: 220 مليون مسيحيّ يتعرّضون للاضطهاد حول العالم
  22. Oct 28, 3:06 AM ACI Digital Português Perseguição aos cristãos piorou em 55% dos países avaliados, diz relatório
  23. Oct 28, 1:34 AM Vatican News Shqip Raporti i ACS: 220 milionë të krishterë viktima të dhunës dhe të persekutimit në botë
  24. Oct 28, 3:00 AM Vatican News Svenska ACS-rapport: 220 miljoner kristna utsatta för våld och förföljelse i världen
  25. Oct 28, 4:14 AM Vatican News العربية مساعدة الكنيسة المتألمة: ٢٢٠ مليون مسيحي يواجهون الاضطهاد والعنف حول العالم
  26. Oct 28, 7:34 AM Vatican News ACN report: 220 million Christians face persecution worldwide
  27. Oct 28, 9:44 AM Vatican News ಕನ್ನಡ ಎಸಿಎನ್ ವರದಿ: ವಿಶ್ವದಾದ್ಯಂತ 22 ಕೋಟಿ ಕ್ರೈಸ್ತರು ಹಿಂಸಾಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ
  28. Oct 28, 7:34 AM Diocese of Hallam ACN report: 220 million Christians face persecution worldwide
  29. Oct 27, 5:13 PM Catholic News Agency Christian persecution worsened in 55% of countries assessed, report finds
  30. Oct 28, 6:28 AM cath.ch Français AED: près de 220 millions de chrétiens exposés à la persécution dans le monde
  31. Oct 28, 11:56 AM KTO Français 220 millions de chrétiens exposés à la persécution, selon l’AED
  32. Oct 28, 2:46 AM Vatican News BE Справаздача: 220 мільёнаў хрысціян пакутуюць ад пераследу і гвалту
  33. Oct 28, 5:00 AM Vatican News Français 220 millions de chrétiens violentés ou persécutés, selon l’AED
  34. Oct 28, 9:03 PM The Catholic Thing Christian persecution continues
  35. Oct 28, 11:02 PM Vatican News Polski Pomoc Kościołowi w Potrzebie: 220 milionów prześladowanych chrześcijan
  36. Oct 28, 11:00 PM The Catholic Leader Christian persecution worsened in 55 per cent of countries assessed, report finds
  37. Oct 29, 2:43 AM Církev.cz Čeština ACN: Pronásledování čelí ve světě 220 milionů křesťanů
  38. Oct 29, 2:10 AM Catholic World News 220 million Christians live in conditions of persecution (Aid to the Church in Need)
  39. Oct 30, 5:55 AM TK KBS Slovenčina Správa ACN: 220 miliónov kresťanov čelí po celom svete prenasledovaniu
  40. Oct 29, 4:52 AM Vatican News Tiếng Việt Tổ chức Trợ giúp các Giáo hội Đau khổ cho biết: 220 triệu Kitô hữu trên thế giới bị bạo lực và bách hại
  41. Oct 28, 2:07 AM Vatican News HY Աշխարհի մէջ 220 միլիոնէ աւելի քրիստոնեաներ հալածանքի եւ բռնութիւններու ենթակայ են
  42. Oct 29, 8:08 AM Vatican News ትግርኛ ጸብጻብ ኣብ ጸገም ንዝርከባ ኣቢያተ ክርስትያን ዝሓልይ ትካል፡ ብዛዕባ ኣሳዶ ክርስቲያን ኣብ ዓለም
  43. Oct 29, 1:27 AM Vatican News Español Informe de ACS: 220 millones de cristianos son víctimas de violencia y persecución
  44. Oct 29, 12:50 PM CathNews Australia New report finds persecution of Christian communities worsens
  45. Oct 28, 1:55 PM ACI Africa New Report on Persecuted Christians Warns of Expanding Terrorism Across the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa
  46. Oct 29, 9:16 PM Diocese of Kontum Tiếng Việt Tổ Chức Trợ Giúp Các Giáo Hội Đau Khổ Cho Biết: 220 Triệu Kitô Hữu Trên Thế Giới Bị Bạo Lực Và Bách Hại
  47. Oct 30, 1:12 AM LiCAS News Christian persecution deepens across Asia amid authoritarianism, nationalism and conflict
  48. Oct 30, 5:21 AM Religión en Libertad Español 220 millones de cristianos perseguidos: el informe de ACN que denuncia una crisis silenciosa
  49. Oct 27, 2:24 PM ZENIT News Agency Español La persecución contra los cristianos empeora en gran parte del mundo, según un nuevo informe de Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada

More from the Diocese of Cremona

  1. Oct 31, 2:30 AM PT Diocese of Cremona publishes new edition of Riflessi Magazine
  2. Oct 30, 10:58 PM PT · 19 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to participants in Assisi peace meeting
  3. Oct 30, 12:35 PM PT Diocese of Cremona to host Don Primo Mazzolari peace event
  4. Oct 30, 8:25 AM PT Diocese of Cremona to host charity operators and volunteers conference
  5. Oct 29, 10:01 AM PT Diocese of Cremona receives fabric donation for patronal feast
  6. Oct 27, 10:02 AM PT Bishop Antonio Napolioni to visit religious institutes

More coverage of the Diocese of Cremona

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