# Rwandan genocide (1994)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1994-rwandan-genocide
Location: Rwanda
Themes: Persecution

Many victims are killed in churches. At this point in the timeline (1994), the Bishop of Rome was Pope John Paul II (16 October 1978 – 2 April 2005).

## Why it matters
Rwandan genocide mattered because it shows how Christians and others suffered for faith and how violence shaped the church's memory and identity.

Pope at the time: [Pope John Paul II](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-john-paul-ii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Rwandan genocide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_genocide)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Rwandan genocide](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Rwandan+genocide)
- [Wikipedia — Modern Era (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_20th_century)