Pope Francis Prays for Persecuted Christians in Iraq, 'I Know How Much You are Suffering' He Says of the Fleeing Thousands

Pope Francis addressed Christians suffering in Iraq in his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday.

"Our brothers are being persecuted, chased away, they are forced to leave their homes without being able to take anything with them," the pontiff said at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

This prayer was for people in Iraq and al-Sham, where persecution on Christians is at an all time high.

"I assure these families that I am close to them and in constant prayer. I know how much you are suffering; I know you are being stripped of everything," he continued.

According to Christian Today, there is an estimate of around 200,000 Christians in Iraq, but thousands are fleeing yearly to avoid the harsh treatment. It is also estimated that 1.5 million Christians have been in Iraqi over the last 2,000 years.

Extremist Sunni Muslims have targeted Christians and Shiite Muslims with murder, rape, and bombings among other persecutions.

"The next days will be very bad. If the situation does not change, Christians will be left with just a symbolic presence in Iraq," said Louis Raphael Sako of Chaldean Catholic Church of Baghdad during a convention, reported Christian Today, "If they leave, their history is finished."

Pope Francis has also spoken out against sexual abuse within the church.

"Sexual abuse is such an ugly crime ... because a priest who does this betrays the body of the Lord. It is like a satanic Mass," Pope Francis said of the matter according to CharismaNews, "We must go ahead with zero tolerance."

The Pope had also previously invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to a prayer meeting during his last visit to the Middle East.