The bishops expressed “growing dismay” at the widespread discrimination and violence faced by individuals and faith communities, particularly Christians
Newsroom (09/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) The Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) has issued a renewed and urgent call for the European Union to reinstate the position of Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, citing escalating global persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. The appeal, made at the conclusion of COMECE’s autumn assembly, underscores the bloc’s responsibility to uphold freedom of thought, conscience, and religion—a right enshrined in Article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In a strongly worded statement, the bishops expressed “growing dismay” at the widespread discrimination and violence faced by individuals and faith communities, particularly Christians, targeted for their beliefs. “The gravity of the situation demands a more firm, dedicated, and institutionalized response,” the statement read, noting that existing EU mechanisms, while valuable, lack the authority and visibility needed to effectively combat the global crisis of religious persecution.
Yet the peril extends perilously close to home. Recent reports from across the continent paint a stark picture of rising anti-Christian hostility within Europe’s borders, challenging the notion that such threats are confined to distant shores. In Germany, official statistics from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police Office reveal a troubling surge: from January to December 10, 2024, authorities registered 228 “anti-Christian” crimes, including one homicide, 14 assaults, and 52 instances of property damage. Attacks on churches alone climbed 20% to 111 incidents, while overall crimes against religious communities ballooned to 8,531—up from 7,029 the previous year—with offenses against believers rising 22% to 7,504.
A broader wave of intolerance has swept the region. In the United Kingdom, a study by the Countryside Alliance documented over 9,000 crimes in churches between 2022 and 2024, ranging from vandalism to arson. Berlin witnessed a brutal assault last week on a 24-year-old man who was beaten in the head after affirming his Christian baptism to a group of assailants. In Schönfeld, a Christian pro-life conference attendee suffered an acid attack aimed at disrupting the event. And in Montfavet, near Avignon, France, a priest was set upon by young men who feigned interest in conversion before hurling insults, shouting “Allahu Akbar,” and threatening to torch his church. These episodes, amid a documented uptick in “oppression or persecution” of Christians, underscore a deepening religious intolerance that demands vigilance even within the EU.
COMECE highlighted the EU’s longstanding commitment to human rights as a cornerstone of its foreign policy but criticized the prolonged vacancy of the special envoy role, which has been empty since the expiration of Belgian Frans van Daele’s term in late 2022. The bishops warned that this gap “suggests a diminishing priority of this fundamental right within EU foreign policy precisely at a time when its defense has become more urgent than ever.” They argued that reinstating the position would enhance the EU’s ability to monitor, report, and respond to violations of religious freedom worldwide.
The special envoy role, established in 2016, has faced recurrent vacancies. Slovakian Ján Figel, the first appointee, served until 2019, after which the post remained vacant for 18 months. In May 2021, Cypriot Christos Stylianides took up the role but left after just six months. Italian Mario Mauro was proposed as a successor but failed to garner sufficient support. Frans van Daele’s appointment in December 2022 briefly restored the position, but the absence of a replacement since his departure has raised concerns among the bishops about the EU’s commitment to addressing religious persecution.
COMECE urged the European Commission to appoint a new special envoy “without further delay,” emphasizing the need for a strengthened mandate and adequate resources to tackle the escalating challenges. “Having someone in this position improves the EU’s ability to respond effectively to violations of religious freedom around the world,” the bishops stated, warning that the vacancy sends a “worrying signal” to both persecuted communities and those who violate religious freedom with impunity.
The call comes amid heightened global scrutiny of religious persecution, with reports indicating that Christians face significant discrimination and violence in many regions. Yet as the shadows of intolerance lengthen across Europe itself, the bishops’ plea underscores the urgency for the EU to act decisively to uphold its human rights commitments—both near and far.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA and Gaudiumpress
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