For the first time since possibly the first crusade, Pope Francis has called for what may amount to a modern-day military crusade to protect persecuted Christians from brutal Islamic jihadists such as the the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

This news also comes out after an alleged plot this week by ISIS to kill the Pope.

Here are some quotes from an Associated Press article who broke the news:

The Vatican is increasingly indicating support for military action in Iraq to protect Christians and other religious minorities from persecution by brutal Islamic jihadists.

As the world grapples with how to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS), the Vatican released a letter Wednesday in which Pope Francis urges the international community “to take action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway.”

The Pope’s comments followed stronger words from the Vatican’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on Sunday. “Maybe military action is necessary at this moment,” Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said in an interview with Vatican Radio.

The plan for the first holy war was formed at the twilight of the 11th century by pope Sylvester II. It was later confirmed when the Christian Byzantine emperor, Alexius in the East had written a letter to then Pope Urban II asking for help from the attacking Muslim Turks in the Holy Land.

Shortly thereafter Pope Urban II called for the first “holy war” or Crusade to gain control of the Holy Land.

The First Crusade was known as Gesta Francorum. This was when the Knights Templar were formed and who were originally founded to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. In 1139 Pope Innocent II placed the Templars directly under papal authority.

Read more from the AP

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