Their statements come at a time of escalating persecution of Christians and other religious minorities worldwide including Europe.
Newsroom (10/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV and the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) issued powerful calls to defend religious freedom, highlighting its critical role in fostering truth, peace, and human dignity. Their statements come at a time of escalating persecution of Christians and other religious minorities worldwide, as well as rising anti-Christian hostility within Europe itself.
In a Vatican address to members of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Pope Leo XIV emphasized that religious freedom is “not optional but essential,” rooted in the dignity of the human person, created in God’s image with reason and free will. Speaking ahead of ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World Report release on October 21, the Pope noted the “rising hostilities and violence against those who hold different convictions, including Christians.” He praised ACN’s mission, stating, “The Church can never abandon our persecuted brothers and sisters,” and highlighted their work in regions like the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique, where they rebuild chapels and support religious communities. “Wherever Aid to the Church in Need rebuilds a chapel, supports a religious sister, or provides for a radio station or a vehicle, you strengthen the life of the Church, as well as the spiritual and moral fabric of society,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV described religious freedom as a cornerstone of society, safeguarding the moral space for conscience formation. “Religious freedom, therefore, is not merely a legal right or a privilege granted to us by governments,” he declared. “It is a foundational condition that makes authentic reconciliation possible.” Quoting Pope Francis, he added, “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others.” He warned that denying religious freedom leads to “the slow disintegration of ethical and spiritual bonds within communities.”
Concurrently, COMECE issued an urgent appeal for the European Union to reinstate the position of Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, vacant since the term of Belgian Frans van Daele ended in late 2022. In a statement following their autumn assembly, the bishops expressed “growing dismay” at the widespread discrimination and violence faced by faith communities, particularly Christians. “The gravity of the situation demands a more firm, dedicated, and institutionalized response,” they stated, noting that the prolonged vacancy “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.”
The bishops highlighted alarming trends within Europe, citing Germany’s 2024 statistics of 228 “anti-Christian” crimes, including one homicide, 14 assaults, and 52 instances of property damage, with attacks on churches rising 20% to 111 incidents. In the UK, over 9,000 church-related crimes, from vandalism to arson, were documented between 2022 and 2024. Recent incidents, such as a brutal assault on a Christian in Berlin and an acid attack on a pro-life conference attendee in Schönfeld, underscore a “deepening religious intolerance” within the EU. COMECE urged the European Commission to appoint a new special envoy “without further delay,” emphasizing that the role enhances the EU’s ability to monitor and respond to global violations of religious freedom.
Both Pope Leo XIV and COMECE underscored the universal right to religious freedom, with the Pope citing the Second Vatican Council and the bishops invoking Article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Their calls align in urging decisive action to protect persecuted communities and promote a world where, as Pope Leo XIV concluded, local Christians can be a “living sign of social harmony and fraternity, showing their neighbors that a different world is possible.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News and Gaudium Press
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