Pope asks world's Christians to pray and fast for Afghanistan

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis looks on during the weekly general audience at the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican, August 25, 2021. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called on the world's Christians to pray and carry out fasting to ask God to bring about peace and coexistence in Afghanistan.

Speaking to pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's Square for his weekly blessing, Francis said he was following events in Afghanistan with "great worry" and was participating in the suffering of those mourning the dead in last Thursday's suicide bombing at Kabul airport.