Pope Leo XIV has dismissed claims that Christians are facing genocide in Nigeria, stressing that the ongoing violence affects people of all faiths, including Christians and Muslims.
Speaking to journalists as he departed his Castel Gandolfo residence at the Vatican, the Pope acknowledged that certain areas in Nigeria are dangerous but cautioned against framing the crisis as targeting a single religious group.
He attributed the violence to a combination of terrorism, economic pressures, and disputes over land.
“I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians, but for all people. Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered,” he said during an interview with EWTN News.
“There’s a question of terrorism. There’s a question that has to do a lot with economics, if you will, and control of the lands that they have. Unfortunately, many Christians have died, and I think it’s very important to seek a way for the government, with all peoples, to promote authentic religious freedom.”
The Pope’s remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom.
The Nigerian government has rejected claims that Christians are being specifically targeted, arguing that framing the crisis in religious terms misrepresents the situation.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, also described the violence last month as primarily a social conflict—often between herders and farmers—rather than a religious war.
He made the statement during the presentation of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report by Aid to the Church in Need.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, led a delegation to the United States to address the allegations.
The team met with Congressman Riley Moore, appointed by Trump to investigate claims of Christian persecution, and discussed the complexities of the Nigerian security situation. Moore described the discussions as “frank, honest, and productive.”