The Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, spoke at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and emphasized the Holy See's desire to draw the Council's attention to "the plight of many individuals and communities who endure persecution because of their religious beliefs"

Reiterating Pope Francis' remarks, the Archbishop pointed out that acceptance of religious freedom on a global scale is also necessary for peace. He stated that it is disturbing that people are suffering just because they openly profess their faith, noting that religious freedom is often restricted. "Roughly one-third of the world's population lives in such circumstances."

Speaking of these terrifying realities, Archbishop Nwachukwu shed light on the recent tightening of repressive measures and abuses against religious minorities around the world, including by national authorities. In fact, he continued, "believers are frequently denied the right to express and practice their faith, even when this does not endanger public safety or violate the rights of other groups or individuals."

He continued by saying that in addition to attacking religious leaders with violence, places of worship and religious sites are also targeted for vandalism and destruction.

"The situation of believers in some nations, where discrimination is practiced more covertly and cunningly behind the guise of inclusion and tolerance, is not any less concerning. We observe the implementation of various forms of censorship in an increasing number of nations, which limits the ability to express one's convictions both publicly and politically under the pretext of not offending others' sensibilities," "the Archbishop pointed out. He continued by stating that "much space for healthy dialogue and even public discourse is lost" as a result of this.

The Holy See "cannot fail to mention, as certain statistics have shown, that one out of every seven Christians experiences persecution," continued Archbishop Nwachukwu.

By insisting that "we should not overlook the fact that violence and acts of discrimination against Christians are also increasing in countries where the latter are not a minority," he finally quotes Pope Francis once more. Everywhere believers feel that their ability to express their beliefs in public is being curtailed in the name of a misguided notion of inclusivity, religious freedom is also in danger.

The minimum requirement for a dignified way of life, he continued, is religious freedom, which cannot be reduced to simply freedom of worship. Governments have a responsibility to uphold this right and make sure that everyone has the freedom to act in accordance with their conscience, including in the public sphere and while practicing their profession, in a way that is consistent with the common good.