Pope Benedict XVI is to be visited by Catholic Church leaders from the Middle East to make plans for a summit on Christians living in the region, news agency i.media said Friday.The church leaders from the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the Orient will be welcomed by the pope on Saturday at Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence outside Rome, the religious news agency said.
At the meeting, the pope will announce a Middle East synod to discuss the plight of Christians living in the region, which will probably take place in October 2010, i.media added.
The majority of people living in Middle Eastern countries are Muslim and Christians in the region can endure difficult conditions.
In January, Louis Sako, the Archbishop of Kirkuk in Iraq, visited Benedict and asked for a meeting to be called on the situation of minority Christians in countries including Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran.
Attacks on churches in Iraq in July left four dead and 32 injured.
During a visit to the Holy Land in May, the head of the Roman Catholic Church urged Christians not to flee the region and called for freedom to allow them to practise their religion.
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SIC: AFP