Violence against priests

The Latest

Father José Filiberto Velázquez Florencio, a priest of the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa in the Mexican state of Guerrero, reported that gunmen shot at the car he was in around midnight Oct. 18, 2023.

Priest in Mexico escapes unharmed after gunmen shoot at him due to his human rights work

Oct 19, 2023

By Diego López Colín

Father José Filiberto Velázquez Florencio, a priest of the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, reported that he was attacked around midnight Oct.... Read more

Funeral Mass of murdered seminarian Michael Nnadi, Good Shepherd Seminary, Kaduna, Nigeria, Feb. 11, 2020

Catholic priest’s murder in France: List of recent priest killings worldwide

Aug 9, 2021

By Matt Hadro

The murder of a French priest on Monday was the latest in a number of killings of priests around the... Read more

Mexican bishops call for justice following murder of priest

Aug 27, 2019

The bishops of Mexico offered prayers and called for justice after the murder of Fr. José Martín Guzmán Vega, a... Read more

Mexican archbishop laments attack on priest, death of taxi driver

Jul 27, 2019

Archbishop Carlos Garfias of Morelia expressed his solidarity with the Diocesis of Tlapa and with their bishop, Dagoberto Sosa, after... Read more

Father Ireneusz Bakalarczyk, who is recovering from being stabbed the morning of June 10, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Wrocław.

Polish priest in stable condition after being stabbed before Mass

Jun 10, 2019

A Catholic priest in Wrocław is in stable condition after reportedly being stabbed before morning Mass on Monday, Polish sources... Read more

Elderly women wield canes to beat back priest's attacker in Canada

Mar 27, 2019

Police are investigating an incident in Edmonton, Canada, after a posse of elderly women beat back a priest attacker with... Read more

Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, Montreal.

Catholic priest in Montreal stabbed during Mass

Mar 22, 2019

A Catholic priest in Montreal is in stable condition after being stabbed during Friday morning Mass. One suspect has been... Read more

Mexico City cathedral.

Amid priest murders, religious freedom situation in Mexico draws concern

Dec 12, 2018

With 26 priests murdered in the last six years, Mexico received a prominent mention in the 2018 Report on Religious... Read more

Priest murdered in Mexican state of Michoacan

Aug 27, 2018

The Archdiocese of Morelia confirmed Saturday that the corpse of Fr. Miguel Gerardo Flores, who had disappeared for a week,... Read more

Man in custody after Delaware priest assaulted

Jul 31, 2018

A 25-year-old man is in custody after reportedly attacking an elderly priest and another parish employee in Delaware.  Read more

Zocalo de Mexico

Church in Mexico releases security protocols to prevent crime

Jun 21, 2018

As increased levels of violence in Mexico continue, the Mexican Bishops Conference has published a protocol guide to help prevent... Read more

Prime suspect arrested in murder of Philippines priest

Jun 15, 2018

The primary suspect in the killing of Filipino priest Father Richmond Villaflor Nilo was found and taken into custody Thursday... Read more

Third priest shot and killed in Philippines in six months

Jun 11, 2018

By Courtney Mares

A Catholic priest in the Philippines was shot and killed in a chapel as he prepared to celebrate Sunday Mass... Read more

Creidt: Alexey Gotovskiy / CNA.

Priest from Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica found dead after kidnapping

Apr 30, 2018

An 84-year-old priest of the Archdiocese of Mexico City was found dead in Cuernavaca, the capital of Mexico’s Morelos state,... Read more

Priest murdered in Mexico amid continuing wave of violence

Apr 20, 2018

A Catholic priest in the Diocese of Cuautitlán Izcalli, México, was stabbed to death inside a church Wednesday, local reports... Read more

Italian Catholic priest kidnapped in Nigeria

Oct 16, 2017

An Italian Catholic priest, who is a member of the Neocatechumenal Way, was kidnapped on Thursday by armed men in... Read more

Catholic priest in Nigeria kidnapped, murdered

Sep 5, 2017

A Catholic priest was kidnapped and found murdered in Nigeria, local sources have confirmed.  Read more

Cross of the Martyrs.

Mexico is the most violent Latin American country for priests

Aug 11, 2017

For the ninth year in a row, Mexico is the most violent country in Latin America for priests, said a... Read more

Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil.

Yemeni minister: Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil is still alive

Jul 13, 2017

By Elise Harris

After nearly a year since his kidnapping, Yemen officials say that Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil is in fact alive and efforts... Read more

Mexican priest moved to intermediate care after stabbing attack

Jun 27, 2017

Father Miguel Angel Machorro, who was stabbed May 15 at the Mexico City Cathedral, left intensive care and was transferred... Read more