Pope: Enough of using God’s name to justify murder

Recently, freedom of religion has been violated in countries where more than half of the world’s population lives, according to a report by the Pontifical Association Aid to the Church in Need, which examined the problem of religious freedom in the world last summer. It also helps victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief.

Religious persecution

Florian Ripka, director of the organization’s German branch, speaks to Vatican Radio about the main reasons for the persecution. He points out that increasing violations of all human rights, including freedom of religion, have led to the preservation and consolidation of power in the hands of autocrats and leaders of fundamentalist groups around the world.

The second reason concerned Islamic countries. “We are deeply concerned about what is happening in sub-Saharan Africa, in countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Mozambique. Everywhere we see that governments are taking less and less action against associations such as Boko Haram and supporters of the so-called Islamic State,” said Ripka.

– The third reason why human rights on religious freedom are violated is ultra-nationalist countries, such as India – he said. He adds that there is a difference between the north of India and the south, for example in Kerala, where freedom of religion generally prevails.

Hybrid stalking

Aid to the Church in Need also mentions hybrid forms of persecution, ie “white gloves” and bloody ones, in a report published on this subject. Some countries enforce controversial laws that restrict freedom of religion or discriminate against certain religious communities, usually without protest. On the other hand, violent attacks against adherents of the “wrong” religion are “normalized” and usually not prosecuted (e.g. in Latin America).

Typically, most of the religious groups that are persecuted come from minority communities. However, religious majority groups (Nigeria, Nicaragua) are also increasingly persecuted. In developed countries, social media has been used to marginalize and attack religious groups. Such events undermined fundamental values ​​including freedom of conscience, thought, religion, freedom of expression, movement and assembly.

After the pandemic, there was a great return of the faithful in most parts of the world to celebrate the main celebrations that are a public expression of religiosity.

Fratelli Tutti

The Pontifical Association to Aid to the Church in Need points out that the number of initiatives related to interreligious dialogue has increased. Pope Francis and other Church leaders around the world have expanded their relationships with different communities, as exemplified by the encyclical “Fratelli tutti” and many interfaith encounters, among others.

“He wants to build bridges. And that was quite an improvement when he came to Iraq a few years ago, because people on the screens, whether Muslims or Christians, saw the pope greet the leaders of the followers of Islam, points out the director of the German branch from aid to the church in need.