Pope visits Azerbaijan

BAKU: Pope Francis on Sunday arrived in mainly Muslim Azerbaijan on the last leg of his peace tour of the volatile ex-Soviet Caucasus region, just months after visiting arch-foe Armenia.

The pontiff held a mass for the country´s tiny Catholic community in the capital Baku ahead of a scheduled meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.

The meeting comes just days after strongman Aliyev -- who is accused of ruthlessly stamping out dissent in the energy-rich country -- won a referendum on constitutional changes seen as consolidating his family´s grip on power.

"You are a little flock precious in God´s eyes," the Pope said in his homily to the country´s few hundred Catholics. "The entire Church, which has for you a special sympathy, looks at you and encourages you."

While in the majority Muslim country, the Pope is expected to reiterate the call he made three months ago in neighbouring Armenia for a peaceful resolution to the long-simmering conflict over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh.