Violence against Christians in Europe on the riseKeys to the eradication of violence against womenChristians persecuted and also ignoredThe Vatican-linked Fides News Agency has presented its annual report on missionaries and pastoral workers killed around the world. This year, 13 Catholics have lost their lives violently, including eight priests and five lay people, mainly in Africa and America, the continents most affected.
Figures from other reports, both from Catholic and secular institutions, coincide in pointing out that, in the last decade, more than 3,500 Christians lose their lives every year because of their faith. This is possibly one of the most unnoticed tragedies.
Figures for the last decades
From 2000 to 2024, 608 missionaries and pastoral agents have been killed, according to Fides data. In 2024, Africa leads this tragic statistic with six victims, America records five murders and Europe, two. The stories of their lives reflect their dedication to Christ and to others, often in environments marked by conflict, inequality and danger.
According to information compiled by Agenzia Fides, during the decade 1980-1989, 115 missionaries died violent deaths, although this figure is probably lower than the actual number, since it is based only on confirmed cases. In the period 1990-2000, the figure rose dramatically to 604, partly due to the Rwandan genocide, which left at least 248 victims among church personnel. In 1994, 274 pastoral agents were recorded as killed, adding up to 248 victims in Rwanda (including 3 bishops, 103 priests and 112 religious) and 26 in other countries. Between 2001 and 2022, the total number of pastoral workers killed reached 544.
Africa: a region marked by insecurity
In Africa, six murders of pastoral workers were recorded. In Burkina Faso, François Kabore was killed by a group of pastoral workers. jihadist while leading a prayer meeting, and catechist Edouard Zoetyenga Yougbare died in brutal circumstances after being kidnapped.
In Cameroon, Father Christophe Komla Badjougou was the victim of a robbery in Yaoundé, while in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Edmond Bahati Monja, a journalist with Radio Maria, was killed for his investigative work. South Africa saw the murder of two priests: William Banda, killed in Tzaneen Cathedral, and Paul Tatu, shot in Pretoria.
America: assassinations in contexts of inequality and repression
In America, five pastoral agents were murdered. In Colombia, Don Ramón Arturo Montejo was killed during a robbery. In Honduras, Juan Antonio López, a well-known social justice advocate, was murdered after denouncing links between local authorities and organized crime. In Ecuador, Father Fabián Arcos Sevilla was found dead days after his disappearance.
In Mexico, Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez was gunned down in San Cristóbal de las Casas, and in Brazil, Steve Maguerith Chaves do Nascimento was shot dead on his way to mass, a crime that shocked his community.
Europe: a less common scenario, but not free of violence
Although less frequent, Europe also recorded two murders in 2024. In Spain, Franciscan friar Juan Antonio Llorente died after a brutal attack in his monastery, and in Poland, Father Lech Lachowicz died after being assaulted in his rectory. These cases highlight that violence can reach even the most seemingly safe environments.
These missionaries, although not seeking notoriety, have become witnesses of Christian love in the midst of extreme situations. Pope Francis, during the Angelus on September 22, recalled their legacy: "I am close to those who see their fundamental rights trampled upon and to those who work for the common good." Their lives, dedicated to faith and service, are seeds that germinate and bear fruit, showing how the sacrifice of these men and women continues to transform hearts and communities around the world.
