Boris Johnson will also reportedly vow to “defend” people’s rights to express their religious beliefs, according to The Daily Telegraph. The recently reaffirmed Conservative Party leader said that he will stand with Christians everywhere.
He will say: “Today of all days, I want us to remember those Christians around the world who are facing persecution.
“For them, Christmas Day will be marked in private, in secret, perhaps even in a prison cell.
“As Prime Minister, that’s something I want to change. We stand with Christians everywhere, in solidarity, and will defend your right to practise your faith.”
A source from No 10 said the Prime Minister wishes to “look at how we can lead on the issue around the world”.
They revealed: “It’s something he came across a lot when he was foreign secretary.
“It has been an issue he has taken seriously personally since he left [the Foreign and Commonwealth Office].”
In May, a report from the former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt found that the persecution of Christians in some parts of the world was a near “genocide” levels.
The review was led by the Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen.
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The Bishop wrote: “Evidence shows not only the geographic spread of anti-Christian persecution, but also its increasing severity.
“In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN.”
It comes as Mr Johnson also served Christmas lunch to British troops stationed in Estonia as he thanked them for their work in keeping Europe safe.
The Prime Minister dished out turkey and Yorkshire puddings to servicemen at the Tapa military base near the capital Tallinn on a one-day trip to the Baltic state.
The base is home to 850 British troops from the Queen’s Royal Hussars who lead the Nato battlegroup along with personnel from Estonia, France and Denmark.
He said the troops were the “most vivid and powerful possible symbol and expression” of Britain’s commitment to the security and stability of the whole of Europe.
He said: “It’s an incredible thing for me to come to Estonia because when I was a kid – when I was your age – Estonia was part of the Soviet Union and we’re now here helping to protect Estonia’s security.
“It’s a fantastic thing and it’s a deeply moving thing for someone from my generation.”
Mr Johnson served lunches for dozens of soldiers in the canteen, donning a red apron as he asked them about how they were enjoying their time in Estonia, before saying: “It’s quite sort of bleak, isn’t it?”
The base holds the UK’s largest operational deployment in Europe and forms part of Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the region to ensure the collective defence principle can be upheld on the alliance’s eastern border with Russia.
