Scottish Catholic Observer

The Pope led tens of thousands of people at St Peter’s Square in silent prayer for over 220 Christians who were kidnapped from their homes in Tal Tamr last week, when ISIS seized control of their villages.

“Unfortunately the tragic news just keeps coming from Iraq and Syria,” Pope Francis said. “We want to assure all those who find themselves in these situations that we have not forgotten them.”

All reports on the kidnapped Christians so far have been unconfirmed, but footage has been released by ISIS showing them smashing ancient Assyrian statues and ransacking a museum and archaeological site in Mosul.

The Pope also turned his attention to Venezuela, where a 14 year-old boy was killed during anti-government protests in San Cristobal.

He condemned this death and called on all Venezuelans to ‘resume a common path for the good of the nation’ which involved rejecting violence and instead respecting the dignity of every person and the sanctity of life.