Pope pens letter to comfort, encourage Mideast Christians
Pope Francis is urging Mideast Christians to remain in the land of Christ's birth, despite the "previously unimaginable" attacks against them by Muslim extremists.
In a Christmas greeting released Tuesday, Francis said the mere presence of the tiny Christian community in the Middle East is more important than any service the church can provide there. He said he hopes to visit in person, but that for now he wants to write to provide words of comfort and solidarity.
