Pope Francis begins Visit to Turkey

Pope Francis spoke with the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot ahead of his trip to Turkey on Friday, saying among other things that persecution of Christian minorities in the Middle East is as bad as what the Church experienced in the first century when it was officially illegal in the Roman Empire. “In Iraq, for example, barbaric, criminal indescribable things are being committed,” he said, urging religious leaders, especially Moslems to “take a clear and brave stand” against the persecution of Christians.