Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has sent a message to Pope Francis, expressing his determination to defend Syrians of all religions against Takfiri militants. The message was delivered during a meeting between the Syrian minister of state and the Pope\\\\\\\'s secretary of state. In his message, Assad says his government protects all its citizens against foreign-backed militants who attack civilians in their homes and places of worship. He also stressed the significance of dialog as the only option to find a way out of the current crisis in the country. The Syrian president also condemned arming militants by neighboring countries. Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. The conflict is estimated to have killed over 126000 people and displaced millions. Show Less >>