Pope Francis has delivered a video message in support of tens of thousands of minority Yazidi and Christian refugees who fled ISIL militants in August, many of whom escaped to Erbil.<br /><br /> The pope addressed the crowd in Erbil as the Archbishop of French city Lyon visited the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region to show his support for the region’s Christians.<br /><br /> “Christians and Yazidis have been forced out of their homes, they have had to abandon everything to save their lives, but they have not denied their faith,” said Pope Francis.<br /><br /> “As religious leaders, we are obliged to denounce all violations of the human dignity,” Francis added.<br /><br /> The Archbishop of Lyon’s 48-hour visit to Erbil comes as the winter gets tougher for the refugees and also as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8, approaches.
