Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has cautioned against framing Nigeria’s security crisis as a religious war.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to Parolin; the violence in the country is largely driven by social and economic issues.
Speaking in Rome on Tuesday during the presentation of a religious freedom report compiled by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Parolin said it would be inaccurate to describe the attacks in Nigeria as a Christian genocide.
He pointed to long-standing disputes between herders and farmers in the country’s north-central region as examples of how the crisis has social rather than purely religious roots.
Parolin said, “We should also recognise that many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance.”
“These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they see as an opponent.”
The cardinal stressed that extremist elements exploit social tensions, poverty, and weak governance to advance their violent agendas, often targeting both Muslims and Christians alike.
Meanwhile, during a parallel launch of the ACN report at the UK Parliament, Bishop John Bakeni of the Diocese of Maiduguri echoed similar sentiments.
He explained that the underlying causes of Nigeria’s violence are multifaceted, linked to poverty, climate change, and competition for land.
However, Bakeni acknowledged that some incidents carry a religious undertone, noting that churches, priests, and other Christian symbols are sometimes attacked with impunity.
The remarks by the two Catholic leaders come amid heightened international debate, with some Western lawmakers labeling the violence in Nigeria as a Christian genocide.
Nigeria’s federal government, however, has repeatedly dismissed such claims. Earlier this month, during the Aqaba Process meeting in Rome, Massad Boulos, senior adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African affairs, backed the government’s stance.
Boulos said extremist groups are responsible for killing more Muslims than Christians, emphasizing that terrorism in Nigeria is not targeted at one faith.
He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria to address insecurity comprehensively.
