"Obviously, Christianity has become the most persecuted religion in the
world," the patriarch said while meeting with Ethiopian Patriarch Abune
Mathias I in Moscow on Thursday.
Specifically, the patriarch said the situation in Nigeria, where the genocide of Christians has become widespread, causes huge concerns. The Russian patriarch expressed his compassion to those that practice Christianity underground in Somalia, and also Christians in Kenya, where they are threatened by terrorists.
Those that were a part of the Ethiopian Church shot and killed in Libya on the coast of the Mediterranean in April 2015 were victims of terrorists, the patriarch said.
"All Christian Churches and all Christian communities should unite to come up with a common response to terrorists and the genocide of Christians," Patriarch Kirill said, adding that contradictions between great powers, including countries that have common Christian backgrounds, are aggravating the situation.
"What is now happening is horrible, they are killing people like animals, they perpetrate massacres," Patriarch Abune Mathias said in his address in response, adding that Africa's Christians expect support from the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government.