More than 380 million Christians worldwide face persecution and discrimination for their faith. This represents a rise of around 15 million in a single year. Last year, 4,476 believers worldwide were killed for their faith. The persecuted Church is, increasingly, a displaced Church, exiled to refugee or IDP (internally displaced people) camps. Sudan is facing the largest displacement crisis in the world: in a country of 49 million people, the number of IDP’s by mid-2024 had surpassed 7.7 million.
Since 2000, around 62,000 Christian civilians have been killed in Nigeria due to jihadist violence. The last year has seen at least 209,771 Christians forced from their homes to go into hiding or exile because of their faith, almost half of whom are from Nigeria. In some countries like Afghanistan, China, and Algeria it is impossible to publicly express your Christian faith. Christians in Somalia, Yemen, Libya and Sudan face extreme violence too while North Korean Christians face the death penalty or hard labour.
The 2025 World Watch List, Open Door’s annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution lists Nigeria as number 7, ahead of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
Red Wednesday allows us to stand in solidarity with all those who suffer for their faith so we can secure a better and more peaceful future for Christians in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Parishes, communities and individuals can get involved by pledging to pray the Rosary, asking your MP what the UK government is doing to help stop persecution, by helping to raise money through your donations and fundraising or attending events or Masses. Please visit https://acnuk.org/redwednesday -Louis Farrington
