ISIS threatens Pope Francis: 'We will be in Rome'

ISIS' latest propaganda film threatens Pope Francis with fighters seen stamping on a bust of Jesus, defacing pictures of the pontiff, and vowing to come to Rome.

The video was filmed largely in the Philippines where the jihadists are waging a war with government forces for control of Marawi city. It shows militants ransacking a church, destroying its decorations and setting the building on fire.

The ISIS fighter holds up a picture of Pope Francis before defacing it and ripping it up. YouTube / News Mencos

An English speaking narrator directly threatens Pope Francis, saying: 'Remember this, you kuffar [an offensive term for non-Muslims] - we will be in Rome, we will be in Rome, inshallah [god willing]'.

Focusing on the fight between Christianity and Islam he goes on: 'After all their efforts, it would be the religion of the cross that would be broken.'

He adds: 'The crusaders' enmity toward the Muslims only served to embolden a generation of youth.'

The desire among extremist Islamists to conquer Rome dates back to the religion's origins where fighters attempted to conquer the Byzantine Empire, reaching the edges of the Italian capital but never capturing it fully.

As ISIS' territory and power is eroded in the Middle East, their Philippine branch is engaged in a fierce battle after they captured the city of Marawi.

Christians are being used as human shields as government forces try to recapture the city and those who remain are being used as sex slaves or killed.

The fighting is now entering its fourth month and the length of the seize is causing concern about the strength of the jihadists in the mainly Catholic southern Philippines.

Despite a sustained bombing campaign from President Duterte's armed forces, the Islamists have a grip on the city and most of the 200,000 inhabitants have fled.

News
'Sad news' as House of Lords approves abortion up to birth
'Sad news' as House of Lords approves abortion up to birth

Christians have reacted with sadness after members of the House of Lords failed to back amendments that would have removed the decriminalisation of abortion up to birth from the Crime and Policing Bill. 

Priest in West Bank's only Christian village speaks of Israeli 'impunity'
Priest in West Bank's only Christian village speaks of Israeli 'impunity'

Father Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest of Taybeh, wants perpetrators of attacks and intimidation to be held to account.

Pastor arrested in Cuba after uploading Bible lesson to YouTube
Pastor arrested in Cuba after uploading Bible lesson to YouTube

Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora was accosted by police mere moments after uploading the video.

Brazilian court rules in favour of student who said transgender women 'obviously born male'
Brazilian court rules in favour of student who said transgender women 'obviously born male'

A Brazilian veterinary student has been vindicated by a Federal Regional Court which ruled that she has no case to answer over online posts stating that transgender women “were obviously born male”.