Pope Francis' visit to the Holy Land on May 24 has highlighted an increasing exodus of Christians from the Middle East, the very region that gave birth to the religion.

The percentage of Christians in the Middle East was just 5% of the total population as of 2010 -- down from 10% in 1900. Researchers have cited violence and growing religious intolerance as some the reasons for this massive decline, and it is unclear whether the pope's visit will be enough to shift this trend.

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