Pope Francis has urged religious and political leaders, on the eve of a trip to the Middle East, to take a stand against attacks on Christians by Islamic State (IS) militants.
According to News24, the Pope said that the persecution of Christians today is the worst it has been since Christianity's earliest days.
There were barbaric and criminal things being committed in Iraq, said the Pope.
He also said that the persecution of Christians, Yazidis and other communities requires religious and political leaders especially Muslims to speak out against them.