United States Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, on Friday in Rome decried the recurring attacks on Christians and churches in Nigeria.
He spoke at a conference on threats to religious freedom in Nigeria, organized by Solidarity with the Persecuted Church (SPC) and the U.S. Embassy.
The envoy told EWTN News that the purpose of the event is to draw attention to the plight of Christians who are being “targeted and killed in Nigeria.”
Burch said extremist Islamic groups have been attacking Christians in churches and homes, adding that “The scale and size of the persecution of Christians there is intolerable.”
In response to Abuja’s denial that Christians are specifically targeted, he said the level of violence prompted President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern.
Burch cited President Trump’s remark that Christians “face an existential crisis in Nigeria,” adding that America is working with the authorities on necessary protective measures.
SPC President Steven Wagner observed the critical situation of internally displaced persons, declaring that more Christians “are martyred in Nigeria than in any other country on earth.”
Wagner urged the Vatican to increase public awareness of the problem and to continue to encourage the government of Nigeria to make progress in protecting its people.
The 119th U.S. Congress has introduced several actions to tackle the crisis, including H.Res.866 by Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) and 39 cosponsors, which condemns the persecution of Nigerian Christians.
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced H.Res.860, which applauds the CPC designation and calls for sanctions against individuals supporting the violence.
In February, the H.R.7457 bill (Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026) was introduced, mandating the Secretary of State to submit a report on U.S. efforts to address atrocities in Nigeria.
