Cardinal Parolin’s interventions underscore the Vatican’s commitment to peace, protection of minorities, and the defense of fundamental freedoms amid global challenges
Newsroom (21/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, expressed cautious optimism Tuesday for a proposed peace plan in Gaza, despite escalating violence in the Middle East, while decrying attacks on Christians in the West Bank and Nigeria, as well as threats to press freedom.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the launch of Aid to the Church in Need’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report at the Pontifical Augustinian Institute, Cardinal Parolin addressed the Holy See’s deep concern over renewed hostilities in Gaza. “The situation remains tragic,” he said, but the Vatican is “full of hope” that the U.S.-brokered initiative—aimed at securing a ceasefire, hostage releases, and a path to Palestinian statehood—can succeed. The plan, recently endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has drawn Vatican support as a potential “step forward” toward lasting reconciliation, though implementation challenges persist.
The cardinal’s remarks come amid a surge in regional tensions, including a recent Israel-Hamas agreement signed in Egypt with U.S. mediation. Echoing Pope Leo XIV‘s calls for dialogue, Parolin stressed the Holy See’s longstanding advocacy for a two-state solution, recognizing Palestine as “independent, sovereign, democratic, and viable” alongside Israel.
Concerns Over Attacks on West Bank Christians
Pressed on reports of Israeli settler violence targeting the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, Cardinal Parolin called the incidents “unacceptable.” The predominantly Christian town, east of Ramallah, has faced repeated assaults, including arson on vehicles and graffiti threats in July 2025. “This is a very complex issue,” he said, “but we fail to understand why these Christians, who are simply living their normal lives, should be subjected to such hostility.”
While stopping short of labeling the actions “persecution,” Parolin urged Israeli authorities to investigate and protect vulnerable communities, echoing condemnations from the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. Rights groups, including B’Tselem, have documented a rise in settler violence since the Gaza war began, eroding Palestinian Christians’ sense of security in their homeland.
Nigeria’s Violence: Social Roots, Indiscriminate Toll
Shifting to Africa, Cardinal Parolin addressed the escalating attacks on Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, attributing them primarily to social tensions rather than purely religious motives. Citing local reports, he described the clashes as “not a religious conflict, but rather more a social one, for example, disputes between herders and farmers.”
In Benue State alone, Fulani herder militias—often linked to Islamist extremists—have killed hundreds of Christians in recent months, displacing farming communities and destroying churches. Parolin noted that “many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance,” with extremist groups wielding violence against perceived opponents indiscriminately.
Human rights advocates, including the Religious Freedom Institute, rank Nigeria as the world’s most dangerous country for Christians, with over 7,000 faith-based killings in the first half of 2025. The cardinal’s comments align with Pope Leo XIV’s recent prayers for “security, justice, and peace” in the region following massacres at Catholic missions.
Warning Against Press Intimidation
In a broader reflection on threats to religious freedom, Cardinal Parolin voiced alarm over an October 17, 2025, attack on Italian journalist Sigfrido Ranucci, host of RAI3’s investigative program Report. An explosive device detonated under his car outside his Pomezia home, destroying the vehicle and damaging property, though no one was injured.
Offering solidarity, Parolin decried the incident as emblematic of a “climate of intolerance” eroding freedom of expression. “We are increasingly at risk,” he said, calling for respect and objectivity in discourse while condemning threats that silence voices. Ranucci, under police protection since 2009 due to mafia threats, had recently announced probes into political corruption.
Italian authorities, including anti-mafia prosecutors, have launched an investigation, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni labeling it a “serious act of intimidation.” The attack has heightened concerns, with Italy’s journalists’ federation reporting 81 intimidations against reporters in early 2025 alone.
Cardinal Parolin’s interventions underscore the Vatican’s commitment to peace, protection of minorities, and the defense of fundamental freedoms amid global challenges. As he concluded, the Church seeks dialogue to heal divisions, ensuring that “everyone can express their views without fear.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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