Calculating the cost: 2026 begins with massacres of Christians in Nigeria. The figures behind a growing global crisis of persecution

Jan 06, 2026 09:54

the latest attack unfolded on the night of 3 January, when armed men stormed the village of Kasuwan-Daji Photo: AFP Vía Getty Images

Analysis Opinion•Local Church•Persecuted Christians

Syria: in 14 years, the Christian presence has fallen by 84%: these are the numbers

Overall, an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Christians are still in Syria. Of those who remain, more than half are over the age of 50. The community’s age structure is inverted, with far fewer young people able or willing to stay

Dec 13, 2025 19:15

ZENIT Staff

Persecuted Christians•Religious Freedom

100 children kidnapped from Catholic school in Nigeria are freed… hostages remain

For the families of Papiri, the road to recovery is only beginning. Children who escaped or were freed have returned home carrying deep emotional scars, and educators warn that repeated attacks are discouraging school attendance across entire regions

Dec 10, 2025 18:04

ZENIT Staff

Persecuted Christians•Religious Freedom•Vatican Diplomacy

A Tested Church in a Tense Land: Beijing’s Recognition of a Detained Bishop Rekindles Debate Over the Vatican–China Deal

Whether the events of December ultimately strengthen trust or deepen mistrust within China’s Catholic circles will depend on what follows: the transparency of authorities regarding Bishop Zhang’s status

Dec 08, 2025 17:54

ZENIT Staff

Islam•Persecuted Christians

French government security office confirms that Christians in the country are being targeted by Islamism

The DGSI’s assessment is supported by a long record of public directives from jihadist leaders

Nov 29, 2025 22:39

ZENIT Staff

Persecuted Christians•Religious Freedom

Nigeria: President Tinubu declares state of emergency due to insecurity and orders recruitment of additional police officers and soldiers

Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora (the diocese to which St. Mary’s Catholic School belongs) commented cautiously on the President’s initiative, stating in a brief statement to Fides: “We’ll see what comes of it.”

Nov 27, 2025 17:50

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV and his impressive and comprehensive reflection on our times, troubled by a growing number of tensions and conflicts

Address of the Pope to members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See for the presentation of New Year greetings

Cardinals will return to Rome for a new Consistory in June 2026 requested by Pope Leo XIV

The January gathering brought together 170 cardinals, both electors and non-electors, marking the first such assembly of Leo XIV’s pontificate. The June meeting, he explained, will not be an isolated event

Calculating the cost: 2026 begins with massacres of Christians in Nigeria. The figures behind a growing global crisis of persecution

53 Humanitarian Organizations Denounce «False Narratives» to Sabotage Those Saving Lives in Palestine

How many Catholic missionaries and pastoral workers were killed in 2025? Report reveals the figures

American missiles, persecuted Christians, and a country that cannot protect them: why did Trump bomb part of Nigeria?

Muslims set fire to Catholic Christmas tree in the West Bank

Nigeria: A decade of terror for Catholic priests

Freedom Before Christmas: Nigeria’s St. Mary’s Abductions End, but the Questions Remain

Syria: in 14 years, the Christian presence has fallen by 84%: these are the numbers

100 children kidnapped from Catholic school in Nigeria are freed… hostages remain

A Tested Church in a Tense Land: Beijing’s Recognition of a Detained Bishop Rekindles Debate Over the Vatican–China Deal

French government security office confirms that Christians in the country are being targeted by Islamism

Nigeria: President Tinubu declares state of emergency due to insecurity and orders recruitment of additional police officers and soldiers