Pope pays homage to tiny Catholic flock in Muslim Azerbaijan
BAKU- Pope Francis said a Mass on Sunday for the miniscule Catholic community in Shi'ite Muslim Azerbaijan, urging the "precious little flock" to keep the faith and paying tribute to those persecuted during the Soviet era.
The oil and gas-rich nation of about 9 million people bordering on Russia, Iran and Turkey, has only about 700 Catholics, according to Vatican figures.
Many of them are foreigners, including staff from embassies and domestic workers and some in the oil and gas industries.
