militants fled as Nigerian troops closed in on the encampment. Amid the chaos, a group of prisoners fled into the forest, where they spent nearly a month with almost no food or water, she recounted, adding that mosquitoes constantly attacked them, and she developed severe rashes that have left scars on her body.

With the help of a local community, they were eventually pointed in the direction of the Nigerian army. The troops initially didn’t believe that Bitrus was Christian and thought she was a member of Boko Haram. However, after reciting several prayers, including the Hail Mary and the Glory Be, they believed her and sent her to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Afterward being discharged, she was sent back to her hometown of Maiduguri, where she was reunitedforgiveness,” she said, noting how Jesus himself was tortured, treated unjustly and condemned to death.

However, “even on the cross, Jesus forgave those who inflicted pain on him; he said: ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,’” she reflected.

Bitrus shared her story with Pope Francis during a private Feb. 24 audience at the Vatican. Joining her were Ashiq Masih and Eisham Ashiq, the husband and daughter, respectively, of Asia Bibi, who has been on death row in Pakistan since 2010 on charges of blasphemy.

The meeting was organized by Aid to the Church in Need, a papal foundation dedicated to supporting persecuted Christians. On Saturday, the organization hosted an event in which Rome’s ancient Colosseum was illuminated red in order to raise awareness of anti-Christian