Pope Leo XIV has warned that Christians in some parts of Nigeria remain in danger, but added that violence across the country has claimed both Christian and Muslim lives.
The pontiff made the remarks while responding to questions on religious persecution and immigration during an interaction with journalists.
Reacting to the Nigerian government’s repeated denial of Christian persecution, Pope Leo XIV insisted that the realities on the ground show a more troubling picture.
Responding to a question on whether Christians are safe in Nigeria, the Pope said the situation varies from region to region but acknowledged ongoing deadly attacks.
“I’ll answer the first question. I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians,” he said.
“But for all people, Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered. There is terrorism. There are issues that have a lot to do with economics and control of land.
“Unfortunately, many Christians have died. And I think it’s very important to seek a way, with the government and with all peoples, to promote authentic religious freedom and respect for all people.”
He reiterated his call for compassion and justice in addressing global crises, saying, “We have to treat people humanely. We have to respect due process. And we must always listen to the victims.”
He also addressed U.S. immigration issues, reaffirming his support for the position of American Catholic bishops and urging the United States to treat migrants with dignity.
He criticised the harsh treatment of undocumented migrants who have lived peacefully in the U.S. for years, stressing that immigration enforcement must follow due process.
“Well, I’ve made some statements about that already. I appreciate very much what the bishops have said. I think it’s a very important statement,” he said.
“I would invite especially all Catholics, but people of goodwill, to listen carefully to what they said. We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that.
“There are courts, there’s a system of justice. I think there are a lot of problems in the system. No one has said that the United States should have open borders.”
“Every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter. But when people are living good lives, many for 10, 15, even 20 years, treating them in ways that are extremely disrespectful, and sometimes violent, is unacceptable. The bishops have been very clear on this, and I invite all people in the United States to listen to them,” he said.
Echoing his earlier remarks, the Pope again urged the U.S. to uphold dignity in its immigration policies.
“There are courts. There’s a system of justice. No one has said the United States should have open borders. But it is wrong to treat people who have lived good lives for many years in extremely disrespectful ways. The bishops have been very clear, and I would invite everyone to listen to them,” he added.
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