BONDOKUY, Burkina Faso — The global landscape for missionaries has grown increasingly perilous, with 17 religious workers reported murdered in 2025, marking a grim continuation of violence against those serving their faith. This brings the total number of missionaries and pastoral workers who have lost their lives to violence since 2000 to 626, according to the latest annual report from Fides News Agency.
The report, released on Dec. 30, details the tragic losses among priests, nuns, seminarians, and laypeople who have been killed while engaged in pastoral activities, often in regions plagued by violence and poverty. Many of those murdered were committed individuals who remained steadfast in their missions, ultimately sacrificing their lives in service to their beliefs.
Africa remains the most dangerous continent for missionaries, recording 10 of this year’s fatalities. Among the victims were six priests, two seminarians, and two catechists. In stark contrast, four murders occurred in the Americas—two priests and two nuns—while one priest and a layperson perished in Asia. A single death of a priest was reported from Europe.
The violence in Africa underscores the perilous environment for religious figures. In Burkina Faso, catechists Mathias Zongo and Christian Tientga were tragically killed by armed assailants on motorcycles near Bondokuy. Also in Nigeria, diocesan priest Sylvester Okechukwu was murdered in his church, and seminarian Andrew Peter lost his life during an armed attack on their rectory.
The violence continued in Nigeria with the murders of Father Godfrey Chukwuma Oparaekwe, who was shot while mediating a family dispute, and Father Matthew Eya, attacked later in September. Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett was shot and killed in Kenya, while in Sierra Leone, Father Augustine Dauda Amadu was killed in his residence.
In the Americas, Sister Evanette Onezaire and Sister Jeanne Voltaire were among those attacked in Haiti by armed gang members, highlighting the epidemic of violence targeting clergy in the region. In Mexico, Father Bertoldo Pantaleón Estrada was reported missing and later found dead, while Father Arul Carasala was shot in Kansas.
Asia has also seen its share of violence, most notably with the death of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win in Myanmar. He was the first Catholic priest to be killed amid the country’s ongoing civil unrest, with his body found in disarray at his parish. Similarly, in the Philippines, Mark Christian Malaca, a school teacher, was shot dead in November.
Europe’s violence included the murder of Father Grzegorz Dymek in Poland in February, where his lifeless body was discovered in the rectory. He had served his parish since its establishment in 1998.
These reports present a sobering reminder of the risks faced by those who dedicate their lives to serving others and spreading their faith. The increasing number of deaths reflects a broader issue of religious persecution, raising concerns among advocates for human rights and religious freedoms worldwide. As these tragic losses continue, calls for international support and solidarity for vulnerable communities remain critical.