A Vatican-led commission has documented that over 1,600 Christians have been killed for their faith worldwide since the year 2000.
The report, supported by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), draws on verified testimonies and Church sources to highlight the ongoing global persecution of Christians.
John Newton from ACN told Premier Christian News that the project was initiated by Pope Francis in 2023 to “record... the number of Christians who have been killed for their faith since the new millennium began”.
He explained: “Pope Francis often spoke about the ecumenism of blood... Christians were witnessing for their faith together, indeed dying for their faith together, regardless of their denomination.”
Newton cited the 2015 killing of 21 Christian construction workers in Egypt, mostly Coptic Orthodox, but including a Roman Catholic, as an example of “the idea of all being one in Christ can be seen in their deaths”.
Asked about the dangers Christians face today, Newton said: “We have found Christians being discriminated against, harassed, arrested... Churches are burnt. Christian women are abducted and raped, and of course, the faithful are killed for their beliefs.”
Regarding the 1,600 figure, he emphasised the commission’s careful verification process: “It is very possible that the figure may be higher... But we can say that, for certain, 1,600 people have been killed for their faith in Christ over the past 25 years.”
Newton highlighted the “graphic” massacre of 200 Christians in Nigeria this year, with families being “displaced by extremist attacks”, “buildings set on fire” and people “macheted while fleeing”.
He added: “These problems are underreported... 200 people killed in one incident... should be making national headlines, but it’s not.”
Looking ahead to the memorial service in Rome this Sunday, Newton shared Pope Leo XIV’s message of hope: “During this jubilee year we celebrate the hope of these courageous witnesses of the faith. It is a hope filled with immortality, because their martyrdom continues to spread the gospel... no one can silence their voice or erase the love they have shown... their witness lives on as a prophecy of the victory of good over evil.”
Newton added: “Despite all these deaths... it’s that hope that Pope Leo wants to highlight.”