Pope and patriarch of Constantinople call for peace in Middle East and Ukraine

Pope Francis and the Patriarch of Constantinople have condemned the treatment of many Christians in the Middle East, the BBC reports on Sunday.

In a joint declaration, the Pope and Patriarch Bartholomew I said they could not resign themselves to a "Middle East without Christians".

On a three-day visit to Turkey, the pontiff discussed divisions between Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

In Istanbul, he and the patriarch also called for peace in Ukraine.