Acs report states 220 million Christians face persecution and discrimination

The pontifical foundation Acs released a report titled Perseguitati e dimenticati? Rapporto sui cristiani oppressi a causa della loro fede 2024-2026. The document states that more than 413 million Christians live in countries where religious freedom is severely violated. Approximately 220 million of these people are directly exposed to violence, discrimination, and persecution due to their faith.

The situation has worsened in more than half of the 18 monitored countries over the last two years, and no significant improvements were recorded. According to the foundation, oppression manifests through arbitrary arrests, discriminatory laws, restrictions on worship, seizure of ecclesiastical property, kidnappings, forced conversions, sexual violence, torture, and killings.

Jihadist terrorism, state repression, and religious nationalism are advancing across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In many cases, persecution occurs in specific regions where the state is absent or unable to guarantee security and protection for minorities rather than on a national scale.