Pope fears for Christian presence in Mideast

Pope Francis yesterday voiced concern that Christians will disappear from the Middle East amid "murderous indifference" as war rages on.

"The Middle East has become a land of people who leave their own lands behind," Francis said.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

He was addressing the leaders of almost all the Middle Eastern churches gathered in the Italian port city of Bari to pray for peace in the region.

"There is also the danger that the presence of our brothers and sisters in the faith will disappear, disfiguring the very face of the region," the pope warned.

"For a Middle East without Christians would not be the Middle East.

"Indifference kills, and we desire to lift up our voices in opposition to this murderous indifference."

Among those attending the ecumenical meeting in southern Italy are the patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of the eastern orthodox church, and metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian orthodox church which is powerful in Syria.

Patriarch Tawadros II is representing Egypt's orthodox Copts alongside six patriarch of eastern Catholic churches.