They "pray, pray" that family members can get out of northern Iraq before a major Islamic State attack.

Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of Maronite Catholics, welcomed the election of a new Lebanese president, ending a two-and-a-half-year power vacuum that had crippled the country's government institutions.

The plight of these children and teens highlights the growing problem of unaccompanied child migrants throughout Europe.

Emotions ran high when the church bell tolled for the first time in more than two years.

"It is very encouraging to witness the faith of the community of Christians living in that enclosed space and also in the midst of a huge Muslim community majority," said Cardinal Nichols.