Vatican City, Oct 1, 2014 / 12:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- An elderly couple who lost everything after fleeing their home due to ISIS violence met with Pope Francis on Sunday, saying the encounter gave them hope because they know they are not alone.

“The call of the Holy Father for the whole world to pray for Iraq has meant a lot to us because in this call we have seen and heard the suffering of the Holy Father due to the persecution of Christians, especially in Iraq,” Mubarack Hano told CNA Sept. 29.