World ignores 'atrocious' persecution of Christians: Pope

Vatican City, June 29
Pope Francis on Monday deplored the "atrocious, inhumane and inexplicable persecution" of Christians still taking place in many parts of the world and "often beneath the eyes and sealed lips of all".

Pope Francis made the remarks during a sermon as he celebrated mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome as it marks the feast day of its patron saints, Peter and Paul.

During an audience on June 19 with the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Antioch Mor Ignatius Aprhrem II, Pope Francis chided world powers for failing to end the "terrible suffering" of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East region.

"How much pain! How many innocent victims! Yet the world's powerful seems incapable of finding solutions," he told Aprhrem II.