Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota — one of the most followed Catholics on social media — has spoken out in support of the Iranian people amid a wave of mass civilian protests against the country’s ruling regime.
In a Jan. 11 X post, Bishop Barron praised the “bravery of thousands” of protesters rising up against what he called “the oppressive regime in Iran.”
“I remember vividly when the Ayatollah Khomeini was swept to power some forty-six years ago,” Bishop Barron wrote, “and I have witnessed the steady and vicious attacks on human dignity perpetrated by the corrupt theocracy he established.”
He went on to condemn the regime’s long-standing repression and its role systemically destabilizing the Middle East, citing its support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups.
The bishop concluded with a petition: “Please God that this dishonorable government, which has been a source of so much mischief and suffering these past several decades, will find its way to the trash-heap of history.”
Bishop Barron’s comments arrive amid an increasingly dire situation in Iran, where nationwide protests have gripped all 31 provinces in one of the most significant challenges to the regime in decades, according to timelines compiled by AP News.
I want to celebrate the bravery of thousands of people who are engaging in protest against the oppressive regime in Iran. I remember vividly when the Ayatollah Khomeini was swept to power some forty-six years ago, and I have witnessed the steady and vicious attacks on human…
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) January 12, 2026
The protests were sparked initially by a severe economic crisis and widespread shortages of basic goods but evolved into a sweeping national outcry against the Islamic Republic itself, according to a report from AP News. Protesters are now calling for the fall of the theocracy established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and an end to the authoritarian rule of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini first came to power.
Since Jan. 8, nationwide internet blackouts have concealed violent crackdowns while disrupting protest coordination, according to several reports from Amnesty International. Security forces have opened fire on crowds, raided hospitals, and detained over 10,000 people, according to data from Human Rights Activist New Agency (HRANA).
Verified reports confirm at least 51 deaths by Jan. 9, including children and bystanders, with some estimates topping 500 amid the communication blackout, according to Iran Human Rights. Protesters now face charges of “waging war against God,” as the regime labels them “terrorists” to justify executions.