Europe witnessed another year of alarming hostility toward Christian communities, according to the OIDAC Europe Report 2025 released on November 17. The organization documented 2,211 attacks on Christian sites and individuals across the continent in 2024 — ranging from vandalism and desecration to threats, arson, and violent assaults.
Although the overall number of incidents decreased slightly from 2,444 cases in 2023, the report warns that the severity and nature of the attacks are worsening. Personal assaults rose dramatically to 274, the highest OIDAC has recorded in years. Meanwhile, arson attacks on churches and Christian properties surged to 94, nearly double the number from the previous year.
A Europe-Wide Surge, With France Hit Hardest
France topped the list with nearly 1,000 documented cases, including the devastating September arson that destroyed the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer. The UK, Germany, Spain, and Austria also reported large numbers of incidents.
In one of the most brutal cases, 76-year-old monk José Luis Sánchez was fatally stabbed in a Madrid monastery, with the attacker reportedly shouting anti-Christian insults. Across Poland and Italy, OIDAC found widespread underreporting — nearly half of priests surveyed said they had experienced harassment or attacks but rarely reported them due to fear, stigma, or administrative challenges.
A Shadow Over Religious Freedom
OIDAC independently verified 516 incidents as confirmed hate crimes. The remaining cases involved break-ins or thefts at religious sites that the organization says often carry clear anti-Christian motives.
“This is not a niche problem,” said OIDAC Executive Director Anja Tang in the report’s foreword. “These acts — everything from defaced church walls to violent assaults — shake communities and undermine the basic freedom to worship without fear.”
Why Attacks Are Increasing
The report attributes the rise in incidents to a cocktail of:
- Secular extremism
- Ideological polarization
- Online radicalization
- Tensions over immigration and national identity
In Germany alone, more than 100 attacks involved graffiti with anti-religious or anti-clerical themes. The UK saw a 20% rise in threats directed at clergy.
Growing Calls for EU Action
Advocacy groups are urging European leaders to take the findings seriously.
“Europe prides itself on tolerance, yet Christians are increasingly treated as acceptable targets,” said Vienna-based policy analyst Maria Hild.
OIDAC recommends:
- Mandatory police training to identify religious hate crimes
- Stronger hate crime monitoring across the EU
- A centralized European database to track anti-Christian incidents
These proposals align with guidance from the OSCE, which has emphasized the need for better tracking and prevention of religiously motivated attacks.
A Warning for 2025 and Beyond
As multiple European countries prepare for elections in 2025, concerns grow that rising political polarization could further inflame religious tensions. For Europe’s 500 million Christians, the OIDAC report serves as a stark reminder: safeguarding religious freedom and cultural heritage is now more urgent than ever.
