The plight of Christians in the Middle East is threatened by an "extremist current" of "political Islam" and is being ignored by the world, the Pope has said ahead of a new Vatican report.
In a working paper released during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Cyprus, to prepare for a crisis summit of Middle East bishops in Rome in October, the Church cited Islamic fundamentalism as a major threat to Christians in the cradle of Christianity.
The Synod, the working paper said, would aim to "help to focus the attention of the international community on the plight of those Christians in the Middle East who suffer for their beliefs. Often times, relations between Christians and Muslims are difficult, principally because Muslims no distinction between religion and politics, thereby relegating Christians to the precarious position of being considered non-citizens... The key to harmonious living between Christians and Muslims is to recognise religious freedom and human rights."
