A cut-out of Pope Francis is seen inside a church ahead of the papal visit in Iquique, Chile. Photo: ReutersPope Francis will not be at risk during his trip to Chile this week, despite a series of attacks at Catholic churches in the capital Santiago, Interior Minister Mario Fernandez said on Saturday (local time). Fernandez told local radio station BioBio that small groups with limited capabilities were to blame, but he did not name them. Francis, who hails from Argentina and is the first Latin American pope, will arrive in Chile on Monday. In Lima, an overnight fire at the foot of a 35-metre statue of Jesus Christ left the monument sooty on Saturday.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 13, 2018 21:22 UTC