Vatican News reported that speaking on Friday, 9 January, during the traditional exchange of New Year greetings, Pope Leo XIV recalled victims of violence in Bangladesh, the Sahel, and Nigeria, and those killed in the terrorist attack last June on the parish of Saint Elias in Damascus, as well as victims of jihadist violence in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
It can be noted that religious minorities and specifically Hindu religious minorities in Bangladesh are being increasingly subjected to widespread violent attacks including murder since August 5, 2024 in the hands of Extremist Muslims.
On Monday, January 12, 2026, BD Digest, a Bangladeshi newspaper published the news that Pope Leo XIV urged the world to stand with minorities facing extreme persecution in Bangladesh. The below content is published by the BD Digest newspaper:
Pope Leo XIV has condemned the persecution of minorities in various countries, including Bangladesh, expressing a strong stance against religious violence and extremist attacks around the world. He has called on the world to stand by persecuted minorities and religious groups.
In a speech given in Vatican City, the Pope said that minority groups in Bangladesh are facing multiple religious persecutions. Jihadists are persecuting minorities and in this situation, the world must stand by the side of the persecuted.
Pope Leo XIV said that religiously motivated violence is increasing at an alarming rate around the world. He is deeply concerned by attacks and discrimination targeting religious minorities, including Christians. He mentioned countries including Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Sudan, saying that innocent people are losing their lives and many people are living in insecurity due to the increase in extremist violence in these regions.
Calling on world leaders and ordinary people, the Pope said that all forms of religious hatred and violence must be rejected. A concerted effort is needed to ensure peace, justice and the safety of all religious believers.
Referring to the situation in Nigeria, where extremist violence is killing both Christians and Muslims, the Pope expressed solidarity with the victims and stressed the need to find peaceful solutions and ensure the protection of populations at risk.
The Pope also expressed deep sorrow over the terrorist attacks on places of worship in Damascus, Syria, and other places. He called for prayers for the dead and injured, describing these attacks as a violation of human dignity.
The Pope’s remarks come at a time of growing concern about the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh. Earlier, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the country’s largest organization working with minorities, said that communal violence was increasing ahead of the vote, creating fear and uncertainty among minorities.
The organization said in a statement released on Tuesday that it had received information about at least 51 violent incidents against the minority community in December 2025 alone. These incidents included 10 murders. In addition, there were allegations of looting and arson of minority homes, businesses and places of worship. The statement also mentioned serious allegations such as torture, attempted rape and physical assault.
The Oikya Parishad claims that the violence has not stopped even at the beginning of the new year. On January 2, a rice field belonging to a minority farmer was set on fire in Lakshmipur district. The next day, a Hindu businessman was hacked to death in Shariatpur and his body was burned. At the same time, there have been allegations of armed robberies in Chittagong and Comilla districts, where cash and gold ornaments were looted.
The organization said that on January 4, about 30 bhari of gold was looted from a jewelry shop in Jhenaidah district. On the same day, a 40-year-old Hindu widow was allegedly raped and tortured. It was also claimed that the woman was publicly humiliated and physically abused. In addition, the statement also mentioned pressure from extremist groups demanding the removal of a top government official from his post because of his religious identity.
On January 5, a factory owner was allegedly shot dead at his workplace in Jessore. On the same day, the organization said, a grocery shopkeeper was stabbed to death in Narsingdi.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council claims that the ongoing violence has spread widespread fear among the Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities. According to the organization, these attacks are being carried out to intimidate minority voters and suppress their political participation.
The organization has demanded immediate intervention by the government and the Election Commission to ensure the safety and rights of minorities ahead of the upcoming national elections. Human rights organizations and international observers are keeping a close eye on the security situation in Bangladesh amid the political tensions surrounding the elections. However, there has been no official response from the Bangladesh government to these allegations.