ST. PIUS X
Pope Urban II
Urban recounted the sad plight of the Mid East, now controlled by Moslems. Its churches had been converted to mosques and stables. The streets where Jesus walked were trampled by heathen feet. Christians were persecuted and tortured. Their women were raped. The power of formerly Christian kingdoms had been broken; they could not longer defend the holy places or Christians. Pilgrimages had become virtually impossible.