Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, strongly denounced the persecution that Christians face in many parts of the world in a speech delivered on Saturday, 26 September 2026, at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. The Secretary of State also drew attention to multiple ongoing global conflicts:
“Tragically, Christians in many parts of the world continue to suffer discrimination, violence, and outright persecution simply because of their faith. Churches are attacked, communities displaced, and individuals killed or imprisoned”.
“While condemning all forms of religious discrimination, the Holy See raises its voice on behalf of these brothers and sisters, not in a spirit of exclusive advocacy, but because the defense of any one community’s freedom strengthens the freedom of all. Silence in the face of such suffering would be a betrayal of the Church’s mission and of the universal human rights the international community has pledged to uphold”.
Religious freedom and global figures highlighted by Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Religious Freedom remains a central tenet for the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which publishes the Religious Freedom in the World Report (RFR) and has launched a international petition advocating for religious freedom as a fundamental human right rather than a privilege. According to the 2025 edition of the RFR, more than 5.4 billion people—nearly two-thirds of humanity—live in countries where religious freedom is not fully guaranteed, with severe violations reported in 62 countries (24 classified as persecution and 38 as discrimination). ACN estimates that around 220 million Christians live in areas facing immediate danger of persecution.
Turning to the plight of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers, the Secretary of State stressed that personal dignity does not depend on geography or socioeconomic status:
“Those who move, or are forced to move, always maintain their dignity. It is essential to continue to address the underlying causes so that migrating once again becomes a matter of choice rather than one of necessity forced by circumstance. It is important not to ignore the plight of those seeking refuge, those forcibly displaced from their homeland, and those undertaking perilous journeys”.
Global wars and Holy See diplomacy at the UN
Addressing the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, Cardinal Parolin highlighted the crisis in the Holy Land and the Middle East, reiterating the Holy See’s call for an end to ongoing violence, home demolitions, and movement restrictions in the West Bank that drive the displacement of Palestinian communities, where local Christians are disproportionately affected.
Regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the cardinal raised grave concerns over ongoing security threats:
“The Holy See is preoccupied by the terrorist attacks especially in North Kivu and Ituri, which repeatedly target the civilian population, including Christian communities, involving killings, abductions and the destruction of villages and Church structures”.
The address further referenced conflict zones in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, the Sahel region, the Rohingya population, and the province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique. Additionally, Cardinal Parolin noted the situations in Latin American nations—including Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua—as well as the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Holy See holds Permanent Observer State status at the United Nations, allowing it to participate in debates and assemblies without voting rights.
