. : : a m i i n : : . amiin- Your Future Depends on You.

On May 9, 2025, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, delivered his first homily in the Sistine Chapel, decrying the prioritization of “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure” over Christianity, which he said is often “considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent” globally. Reuters and The Jerusalem Post reported the event, with Newsmax emphasizing his call for renewed evangelization. Conservative X posts from @CatholicVote on May 10 praise Leo’s focus on spiritual revival, highlighting his role as the first American pope as a milestone for global Christianity. His homily resonates with Christians facing cultural marginalization, though some X posts critique his pro-immigrant stance as divisive for conservative believers.

Syrian Christians face escalating violence under the new jihadist-led government of Ahmed al-Sharaa. Reports detail executions, kidnappings, and church harassment in Damascus and coastal areas, with Greco-Levantines Worldwide media reporting a Christian family, including an infant, killed on May 10. The Eagles of Antioch, a Christian volunteer group, patrols Damascus to protect churches, as noted by Fox News. The violence to al-Sharaa’s al-Qaeda ties, warning of a broader anti-Christian campaign.

Islamist violence against Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions continues. Boko Haram and Fulani militants have killed thousands and displaced entire Christian communities. Open Doors US CEO Ryan Brown called for global attention to the crisis, describing it as part of a “global anti-Christian agenda.”

North Korea remains the top persecutor of Christians, with practicing faith illegal and suspected believers sent to labor camps or executed, per Fox News on May 14, citing Open Doors’ World Watch List. An estimated 70,000 Christians are held in camps, facing torture and starvation.

On May 14, 2025, Reuters reported a mob attack on a Christian community in Punjab, Pakistan, sparked by allegations of blasphemy against a Christian teenager. Homes and a church were vandalized, with several injuries reported.

A Christianity Today feature on May 7 shares the story of a former embittered skinhead who became a senior pastor, transformed by a Christian couple’s weekly dinner invitations. The man, unnamed for privacy, credits their persistent kindness and prayers for shifting him from hate to faith. Now leading a church in the U.S., he mentors at-risk youth, emphasizing forgiveness.

On May 11, Truth Nigeria reported via X that a group of Nigerian Christians escaped after 49 days in captivity by Boko Haram in Borno State’s jungle. Led by a pastor, the group endured starvation but prayed daily, crediting their survival to divine intervention. After a risky escape, they reached a Christian village, where locals provided shelter. Fox News and Breitbart picked up the story on May 14, framing it as a miracle amid Nigeria’s persecution crisis.

On May 12, Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham, told Sean Hannity’s radio show that young people are “spiritually hungry” for faith and connection, per The Christian Post. Graham shared stories of Gen Z attendees at his U.S. evangelistic events, many embracing Christianity after feeling lost in a polarized world. He cited a teen in North Carolina who found purpose through a church youth group.

On May 6, Desiring God posted on X about 21 Egyptian Christian martyrs beheaded by ISIS in 2015, whose witness continues to inspire in 2025. Their families’ joyful grief and steadfast faith led to over a million Egyptians hearing their story, with many converting. A 2025 documentary, covered by Fox News on May 13, details how their sacrifice sparked church growth in Egypt. Conservative X posts from @DesiringGod on May 6 call it a “flame of faith,” urging Christians to stand firm. The story uplifts believers facing persecution.