Pope Francis calls for action as Iraqi Christians forced to flee

Pope Francis (R), flanked by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, waves as he arrives to lead his Wednesday general audience at the Vatican August 6, 2014.

CREDIT: REUTERS/STEFANO RELLANDINI

Plight of Iraq's Yazidis

The Islamic State captures Sinjar, prompting thousands from the Yazidi ethnic minority to flee for surrounding mountains. Slideshow 

(Reuters) - Pope Francis appealed to world leaders on Thursday to help end the crisis in northern Iraq after a sweeping advance by radical Islamic state militants forced thousands of residents of Iraq's biggest Christian town to flee their homes.

"His Holiness addresses an urgent appeal to the international community to take action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway, to act to protect those affected or threatened by violence and to provide aid, especially for the most urgent needs of the many who have been forced to flee and who depend on the solidarity of others," the Vatican said in a statement.