The Colosseum in Rome was flooded with red light on Saturday to protest against the death sentence for Asia Bibi, who has been charged with blasphemy in Pakistan.
Bibi's husband and daughter met the pope, who described Bibi and a Nigerian woman captured by Jihadists as 'martyrs.'
Bibi was captured in 2009 after being accused of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, something she denies.
The meeting was organised by Aid to the Church in Need and according to Vatican News, the charity's president in Italy, Alessandro Mondeduro, said the pope was "deeply moved by the occasion".
He said the pope described both prisoners as "women martyrs: marvellous examples for a civilization that is so afraid of pain".
Great to see Rome's ancient #Colosseum lit in red on Saturday in solidarity with persecuted Christians, particularly #AsiaBibi, a woman condemned to death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. https://t.co/LFGq628zlL pic.twitter.com/pA5FqoHrFQ
— Church in Chains (@ChurchinChains) 26 February 2018
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