Pope Francis Has Denounced The “Brutal Prosecution” Of Religious Minorities At The Hands Of The ISIL Takfiri Terrorists In Iraq And Syria

Pope Francis has denounced the “brutal prosecution” of religious minorities at the hands of the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Iraq and Syria, calling for peace in all violence-torn states across the world.

In his second Christmas Day message on Thursday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church pointed to the plight of the victims of Takfiri terrorism in Iraq and Syria, adding, “Truly there are so many tears this Christmas.”

The Argentinean pontiff urged an end to “brutal” religious persecutions, killings and hostage-takings by the Takfiri extremists operating in the Middle East as Well as the African state of Nigeria.

He further asked Jesus Christ “to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution.”

The ISIL Takfiri terrorists control some parts of Syria and Iraq and are engaged in crimes against humanity in the areas under their control.

Nigeria has also witnessed a series of deadly shooting attacks, bombings and kidnappings by the Boko Haram Takfiri militant group since 2009.

The top Christian figure further called for the establishment of peace in the “whole Middle East” as well as the crisis-hit states such as Ukraine, Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the 78-year-old Christian leader decried the massacre of nearly 150 people, mostly school children, by pro-Taliban militants in the Pakistani city of Peshawar earlier this month, asking Jesus to “give comfort” to the families of the victims.

Pope Francis also voiced alarm over a surge in the number of the children falling victim to human smuggling, and said vast numbers of children “are victims of violence, made objects of trade and trafficking.”