KAMPALA, Uganda — Seventeen missionaries lost their lives in violence across the globe in 2025, marking a grim milestone during the Jubilee Year of Hope. This recent statistic brings the total number of missionaries and pastoral workers killed since 2000 to 626, according to a report released by Fides News Agency.
The report highlights the tragic murders of priests, nuns, seminarians, and laypersons engaged in pastoral activities who faced deadly circumstances due to their faith. Many of these individuals exemplified a deep commitment to their missions, often at great personal risk, embodying the principles of the Gospel until their final moments.
Africa endured the highest toll, with ten missionaries killed, among them six priests and two catechists. In the Americas, four individuals were reported dead, including two priests and two nuns. Asia accounted for two fatalities—one priest and one layperson—while a single priest was noted as deceased in Europe.
In Burkina Faso, catechists Mathias Zongo and Christian Tientga were shot by armed attackers while traveling near Bondokuy. In Nigeria, the violence was particularly pronounced, with the killing of diocesan priest Sylvester Okechukwu during an attack in the Kaura local government area. Additionally, 21-year-old seminarian Andrew Peter was also murdered amid an assault on his church.
Father Godfrey Chukwuma Oparaekwe was gunned down while attempting to mediate a family conflict in June, and another Nigerian priest, Father Matthew Eya, was shot dead in September. Furthermore, the seminarian Emmanuel Alabi succumbed to injuries inflicted during his kidnapping.
The report also noted the brutal killing of Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett in Kenya, who was shot in the neck, and the deaths of Father Augustine Dauda Amadu and Father Luka Jomo in Sierra Leone due to violence.
In the Americas, two nuns from Haiti were murdered by gang members in Mirebalais, while Father Bertoldo Pantaleón Estrada in Mexico was found dead following a reported disappearance. In the U.S., Father Arul Carasala was fatally shot at his church in Kansas.
The report also addressed violence in Asia. In Myanmar, diocesan priest Donald Martin Ye Naing Win became the first Catholic priest known to be killed amid the ongoing civil conflict. His disfigured body was discovered by parishioners, marking a dark chapter in the region’s struggle.
In the Philippines, Mark Christian Malaca, a local educator, was also shot and killed, further illustrating the risks faced by individuals in pastoral and educational roles. Meanwhile, in Poland, Father Grzegorz Dymek was found strangled in his parish rectory, underscoring the persistent dangers that religious leaders confront worldwide.
These incidents reflect a broader crisis affecting those who serve vulnerable communities, illustrating the inherent risks of faith and the sacrifices made by those dedicated to their missions.