Prince Charles urges tolerance in ‘echoes of the dark days of 1930s’ warning

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"My parents' generation fought and died in a battle against intolerance, monstrous extremism and inhuman attempts to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe."

His Royal Highness, who by convention is "above politics", did not mention any leaders or political movements.

But, in the Christmas message, the Prince revealed he had met a Jesuit priest from Syria who warned about how Christians are being treated in the Middle Eastern country.

"He told me of mass kidnappings in parts of Syria and Iraq and how he feared that Christians will be driven en masse out of lands described in the Bible," he said. "He thought it quite possible there will be no Christians in Iraq within five years. Clearly, for such people, religious freedom is a daily, stark choice between life and death."

Charles, who will succeed Queen Elizabeth II as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, added: "Whichever religious path we follow, the destination is the same – to value and respect the other person, accepting their right to live out their peaceful response to the love of God."