Prince Charles feels "heartbroken beyond words" at the "pain and suffering" being endured by Christians who are persecuted.
Prince Charles
The 69-year-old royal admitted Christians in Syria, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries face "troubled times" and cannot believe such hatred goes on "in this day and age".
Speaking at a service of prayers for persecuted Christians around the world at St Barnabas Church, Pimlico, central London on Tuesday (19.12.17), he said: "Such barbaric persecution is even more perverse and dreadful when as many Christians seem unaware.
"As someone who, throughout my life, has tried, in whatever small way I can, to foster understanding between people of faith, and to build bridges between the great religions of the world, it is heart-breaking beyond words to see just how much pain and suffering is being endured by Christians, in this day and age, simply because of their faith."
The Prince of Wales also called on Christians "who enjoy the rights of freedom of worship" not to take such rights for granted.
According to Christian Today, he added: "As Christians we remember, of course, how our Lord called upon us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute. But for those confronted with such hatred and oppression, I can only begin to imagine how incredibly hard it must be to follow Christ's example.
"It is so vitally important, in this season of Advent and throughout the year, that Christians in this country and elsewhere, who enjoy the rights of freedom of worship and freedom of expression, do not take those rights for granted; and that we remember, and do what we can to support, our fellow Christians for whom the denial of such rights has had such profound and painful consequences."
Last year, Charles called for an end to the "appalling suffering" of Christians in Syria.
He said: "It is surely deeply encouraging, at a time when the members of the Syriac Orthodox Church in their homelands of Syria and Iraq are undergoing such desperate trials and such appalling suffering, that in Britain the Syriac Church is able to expand and gain in strength."
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