Persecuted Christians

The Latest

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for all cardinals and bishops who died in the last year, Nov. 3, 2014.

Pope pleads with Middle East churches to address crisis together

Dec 13, 2014

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis addressed the increasing challenges caused by violence in the Middle East with members of the Syriac Catholic Church,... Read more

A young refugee rests after having fled from ISIS and arrived in Ankawa in the northern part of Erbil, Iraq.

'Every five minutes, a Christian dies in the Middle East'

Dec 12, 2014

Fr. Gabriel Nadaf is a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church. He lives in Nazareth and faces death threats for... Read more

Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles.

LA billboard aims for bold statement on persecuted Christians

Dec 8, 2014

A new billboard campaign in Los Angeles leading up to Christmas is hoping to raise awareness of persecuted Christians both... Read more

Imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedini with his family.

Law group: Iran nuclear deal should include Christian pastor's freedom

Nov 28, 2014

By Matt Hadro

Advocates pushing for the U.S. State Department to demand the release of Christen pastor Saeed Abedini – a U.S. citizen... Read more

A refugee mother with her child, who is having stomach problems and other issues because of the heat.

Displaced Christians in Kurdistan – 'Their tears have run dry'

Oct 30, 2014

Christians who were forced from their homes in northern Iraq by the Islamic State this summer are a people whose... Read more

Pope Francis.

Asia Bibi to Pope Francis: Pray for me, your daughter

Oct 28, 2014

A Catholic woman condemned to death in Pakistan for allegedly violating the country's blasphemy law has asked Pope Francis for... Read more

Martin Baani: "I want to stay. I don’t want to run away from the problem."

Martin Baani: the Iraqi seminarian who will not leave his people

Oct 28, 2014

Bombs are falling and the sound of the explosion is sending shock and fear into the hearts of the people.... Read more

A family at the Khazair checkpoint after fleeing from Mosul, Iraq on June 11, 2014.

'Don’t abandon us' – Church in Mosul 'no longer exists'

Oct 23, 2014

By Carl Bunderson

Reflecting on his recent trip to the Holy Land and to Iraqi Kurdistan, Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City said... Read more

A young boy refugee in Erbil, Iraq.

Crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $1 million for Iraqi Christians

Oct 22, 2014

A Catholic lay organization has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise awareness and money to help persecuted Christians and other... Read more

Two refugees at the Church of St. Joseph in Ankawa Erbil.

200,000 activists tell Europe: stand up for persecuted Christians

Oct 20, 2014

By Andrea Gagliarducci

More than 200,000 people have signed a petition asking European leaders to offer “real help” for persecuted Christians and other... Read more

Cardinals pray together at a Feb. 22, 2014 consistory.

A Middle East without Christians - cardinals consider sad prospect

Oct 20, 2014

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Monday's consistory of cardinals focused on the plight of Christians in the Middle East, especially in light of the rise... Read more

 Fr. Ghazwan Yousif Baho speaks with CNA in Rome on Oct. 4, 2014.

Six miles from ISIS: A shockingly brave priest returns to Iraq

Oct 9, 2014

By Elise Harris

Father Ghazwan Yousif Baho had the option to stay in Italy when he recently accompanied an elderly Iraqi couple to... Read more

Children in the Church of St. Josef in Ankawa, Erbil in Iraq.

Iraq has done 'absolutely nothing' for displaced Christians

Oct 8, 2014

An Iraqi bishop whose community is hosting more than 70,000 Christians who fled violence in Mosul and its surroundings has... Read more

Mubarak and Agnese Hano from Iraq at Mass with Pope Francis.

Iraqi couple finds courage in a Pope who suffers with them

Oct 1, 2014

By Elise Harris

An elderly couple who lost everything after fleeing their home due to ISIS violence met with Pope Francis on Sunday,... Read more

Naghmeh Abedini and family at the 2 yr anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's imprisonment in Iran.

Hundreds gather as pastor's Iran imprisonment reaches two years

Sep 30, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

Hundreds of advocates gathered Sept. 25 in Washington, D.C., to pray for the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini, who... Read more

Screenshot courtesy of Catholic Link.

'You are not alone': Social media campaign supports persecuted Christians

Sep 23, 2014

Thousands of believers have come together to offer support for persecuted Christians in the Middle East, inspired by the words... Read more

Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom.

Defense of all persecuted believers highlighted at DC summit

Sep 16, 2014

By Matt Hadro

Support of religious freedom for all those being persecuted was reiterated at a conference in the nation’s capital following outcry... Read more

A young refugee rests after having fled from ISIS and arrived in Ankawa in the northern part of Erbil, Iraq.

Iraqis will be seen like early Christian martyrs, priest predicts

Sep 12, 2014

An Argentinian priest caring for the Catholic community in Baghdad says the faith of persecuted Iraqi Christians is moving and... Read more

Mario Joseph speaks with Cristina Cosado on an episode of Changing Tracks. Screenshot.

Former imam: God saved me from torture after Christian conversion

Sep 11, 2014

A former Muslim imam who converted to Christianity believes that God protected him from death threats and torture at the... Read more

Sen. Cruz's tense Middle East remarks prompt calls for Christian unity

Sep 11, 2014

Amid controversial remarks by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Christian leaders at a historic ecumenical conference voiced the need for unity... Read more