62% of the world's population lives in countries that violate religious freedom. This was revealed in the 'Religious Freedom in the World 2023' report by Aid to the Church in Need. Published on June 22, it found that Africa and Asia are the areas of greatest suffering and persecution for Christians.
On the same day this document was published, Pope Francis met with a worldwide congregation of brothers and priests called the Augustinians of the Assumption. There he asked them to pray for the persecuted Church in the world, especially in the Middle East.
POPE FRANCIS
I encourage you to continue your missions in the Middle East, where Christianity is a target. Also in Eastern Europe, where the war in Ukraine has endangered the civil and religious balance of the region, your long experience of dialogue with Orthodoxy, such as Islam and Judaism, is precious for the Church.
The 'Religious Freedom in the World' report concluded that Christians suffer persecution in 28 countries and suffer discrimination in 33. This project examines the protection of the freedom of religion enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
PA
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