American Catholics, Heed the Pope’s Call to Champion Religious Freedom in Nigeria and Elsewhere
- By Michie
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 0 Replies
A dire humanitarian crisis demands an American response grounded in both principle and prudence.
Last Friday, Pope Leo XIV reminded the world of what is at stake.
Speaking to representatives of Aid to the Church in Need, the Holy Father declared that religious freedom “is not merely a legal right or a privilege granted to us by governments; it is a foundational condition that makes authentic reconciliation possible.” He continued, “It is therefore a cornerstone of any just society, for it safeguards the moral space in which conscience may be formed and exercised.”
When religious freedom is denied, the Holy Father warned, “trust gives way to fear, suspicion replaces dialogue, and oppression breeds violence.”
Catholics in the United States should take the Holy Father's counsel to heart — as well as know that defending the persecuted is entirely consistent with President Donald Trump's “America First” approach to foreign policy. It means wielding diplomacy, moral clarity and targeted policy tools to protect the innocent and defend the right to religious expression and worship. It means recognizing that nations respecting religious freedom are more stable, more prosperous, and less prone to the violence that threatens American interests.
Continued below.
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Last Friday, Pope Leo XIV reminded the world of what is at stake.
Speaking to representatives of Aid to the Church in Need, the Holy Father declared that religious freedom “is not merely a legal right or a privilege granted to us by governments; it is a foundational condition that makes authentic reconciliation possible.” He continued, “It is therefore a cornerstone of any just society, for it safeguards the moral space in which conscience may be formed and exercised.”
When religious freedom is denied, the Holy Father warned, “trust gives way to fear, suspicion replaces dialogue, and oppression breeds violence.”
Catholics in the United States should take the Holy Father's counsel to heart — as well as know that defending the persecuted is entirely consistent with President Donald Trump's “America First” approach to foreign policy. It means wielding diplomacy, moral clarity and targeted policy tools to protect the innocent and defend the right to religious expression and worship. It means recognizing that nations respecting religious freedom are more stable, more prosperous, and less prone to the violence that threatens American interests.
Continued below.

American Catholics, Heed the Pope’s Call to Champion Religious Freedom in Nigeria and Elsewhere
COMMENTARY: A dire humanitarian crisis demands an American response grounded in both principle and prudence.