In his January 9, 2026 address to world diplomats, Pope Leo XIV sounded the alarm on two urgent crises: the rapid erosion of free speech in the West and widespread persecution of Christians.

He condemned the rise of a "new Orwellian-style language" — deliberately ambiguous and fluid — that claims to promote inclusion while actually silencing dissent. "Especially in the West," he said, "the space for genuine freedom of expression is shrinking fast," forcing moral conformity and punishing those who refuse to conform on life issues.

On religious freedom, the Pope highlighted that nearly 65% of humanity faces serious violations, with Christians suffering one of the worst crises today — over 380 million affected. He specifically denounced deadly attacks on Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, plus subtler discrimination elsewhere.

His urgent call: Restore clear, honest speech to rebuild authentic dialogue, and guarantee full religious freedom for all.

Do you think the Pope's warning has come too late, or is there still time to reverse course on these grave issues facing humanity? Share your thoughts below. 👇🏻

Link to article: https://www.usccb.org/news/2026/pope-warns-diplomats-rising-global-violence-and-erosion-human-life