At stake is whether Iraq will finally emerge from the trauma of Saddam Hussein and the past sixteen years, to become a legitimate, independent and functioning country, or whether it will become a permanently lawless region, open to proxy wars between other countries and movements, and a servant to the sectarian demands of those outside the country.

The secretary-general of the bishops' conference has asked the prime minister to 'intervene to stop hatred'

Secretary-general of European bishops' council says the EU has failed to act on its pledge to protect persecuted minorities

The Pope released a video message ahead of his visit to Egypt on Friday

During his time Egypt, Francis will not use an armoured car and will travel among crowds in a golf cart

Fr Hamel was murdered by ISIS terrorists as he celebrated Mass in his Normandy church

'The local Christian community is now living under threat,' says priest

The Minya Coptic Orthodox Diocese said that celebrations will be limited to liturgical prayers 'without any festive manifestations'