Bishop fears war may prompt ‘Iraq-style’ exodus of Christians

The bishop of the devastated city of Aleppo has told MPs at Westminster that bishops in Syria are torn between urging Catholics to stay living in a warzone or flee, risking a Christian exodus similar to the one that happened in Iraq after the 2003 invasion.

Speaking at a parliamentary briefing in London last week organised by the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Odo said a mass exodus of Syria's ancient Christian communities would signal a victory for the insurgents aiding the mainly Sunni rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad.

Many people in Aleppo had fled, he said, adding: "We fear Christianity will lose its influence like in Iraq, so I ask, what is the future of Christianity in the Middle East?"