The Tory, who this month admitted he wants to be PM, said Britain had a duty to stand up for Christians as it does Jehovah’s witnesses and Yazidis.
He is charging the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Reverend Philip Mounstephen to make recommendations to the Government.
The review will be centred around mapping the level of Christian persecution across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The Foreign Office also wants to provide an “objective analysis” of current Government support.
And it will provide recommendations on a more “cohesive and comprehensive” policy response.
Armed gangs are alleged to have wiped out Christian communities in villages in Nigeria.
Egypt’s Coptic Christian community has also been the target of terror attacks. In all some 3,000 were murdered in 2018 because of their faith.
Pontiff in plea for fraternity
Pope Francis, 82, said that without fellowship “even our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty”.
His plea came as nationalism and a suspicion of migrants are gaining traction across much of the globe.
He prayed that all minorities have their right to religious freedom respected — noting that some Christians were marking Christmas “in difficult, if not hostile, situations”.
Communist China has imposed restrictions on Christian churches.
Addressing a 50,000-strong crowd in the Vatican, the pontiff appealed for peace in war-hit Yemen and Syria.
Jeremy Hunt said: “Britain has long championed international religious freedom.
“So often the persecution of Christians is a telling early warning sign of the persecution of every minority.”
Lord Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Religious Freedom, added: “We are seeking to identify additional practical steps to help stop the appalling levels of violence that saw 3,000 Christians murdered last year because of their faith.
“I am absolutely committed to not only standing up for the persecuted, but protecting and strengthening this fundamental human right, working with key partners around the world.”
Welby in love plea
The Most Rev Justin Welby said at Canterbury Cathedral that God spoke “for the poor and suffering and oppressed”.
He added: “God’s language of love is exclusive. It requires us to forget other languages of hatred, tribalism, rivalry, political advantage and of materialism, pride, greed.”
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