Vatican: Anti-Christian persecution at 30-year high The number of persecuted Christians will remain at 360 million in 2022, according to the World Watch List, which released an Open Doors report yesterday, January 18. Afghanistan topped the list after the Taliban took over the country. But now North Korea is back at the top of the list of countries where Christians are persecuted the most.
The World Watch List reports that the Christians there are living like the early Christians. Christian Nani, the Italian president of Open Doors, said that this time Afghanistan is in ninth place because of the number of Christians in Afghanistan who have been killed fled, or are in hiding. Christian Nani said that witnessing the phenomenon of the refugee church, there will be a huge increase in the number of Christians migrating from different places. The list of countries where Christian persecution is rampant includes Pakistan, Somalia, India, and Nigeria. China ranks 16th on this list. Last year, 5014 Christians were killed in Nigeria alone. Christian Nani said Open Doors works to help victims of anti-Christian persecution and end persecution. During the general meeting, Pope Francis called on the religious community to pray for persecuted Christians around the world.