Catholic organization gathers signatures to call on world leaders to protect religious freedom

The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has launched a petition campaign calling on the United Nations and the Council of Europe to protect religious freedom in the face of the religious persecution occurring in 62 countries.

On its website, the Catholic organization states that “no one should have to choose between their faith and their life.” However, “5.4 billion people, almost two-thirds of humanity, live in countries where individuals and communities continue to face harassment, violence, and even death because of their beliefs.”

ACN is therefore inviting people to sign the petition addressed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres; U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk; the U.N. General Assembly; European Council President António Costa; as well as democratic governments, ambassadors, and diplomatic representatives.

The goal is to call upon international leaders to permanently protect the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, “as enshrined in Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

ACN notes that its “Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025” warns that “some 5.4 billion people live in 62 countries where persecution, oppression, or discrimination by both state and non-state actors has intensified.”

The pontifical foundation states that “this grave human rights crisis can no longer be ignored” and therefore urges democratic governments and international bodies to “publicly condemn all forms of religious persecution.”

Likewise, ACN calls for “religious freedom to be a priority in foreign policy and diplomatic relations,” for “enforcing appropriate measures against regimes that repeatedly violate this fundamental right,” and for concrete measures to be adopted “to prevent violations, ensure the effective protection of this right, and promote the socioeconomic development of religious minorities.”

The letter also calls for the protection of “at-risk religious communities to be granted protection, especially in countries suffering from sectarian violence or religious extremism. This is aimed at preventing forced migration, thereby enabling communities to stay in their ancestral homes and lands.”

Finally, the letter requests that “individuals and groups suffering religious persecution receive the emergency aid and legal aid they need.”

Those wishing to sign the petition can visit this link.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.