(intense music)

- Thanks Gordon.

Secretary Pompeo will host the first ever

worldwide conference on religious freedom

right here in Washington this week.

In his recent one on oneinterview with David Brody,

Pompeo said his Christianfaith explains why this issue

is so important to him.

- [David] Unfortunately,religious persecution

is nothing new and inrecent years, it's grown.

In an attempt to stopthat trend, more than 80

high level governmentministers will come together

to promote religious freedom.

Secretary of State MikePompeo tells CBN News

it's a major priorityfor this administration.

- The advancement of religious freedom

matters to every individualin every country.

The human dignity, thehuman right attached to

religious freedom, I feel personally,

I know President Trump does as well.

- [David] The overallconcept is to show evidence

that greater religiousfreedom means less terrorism

and a better economy.

Experts say roughly threefourths of the world's population

face some restrictionon religious freedom.

As for Christians, oneout of every 12 experience

extreme persecution in themost dangerous countries

on the state department'sworldwide watch list.

- Not every country will achieve the level

of religious freedom that wehave here in the United States.

But we think we can advanceit all across the world

by bringing together folks from all faiths

and frankly, those who have no faith,

but their capacity topractice religion in the way

that they choose isimportant for the world.

- For Pompeo, this isalso personal because his

evangelical Christian faithcompels him to take action.

Your faith, I know, isvery, very important to you.

You've talked about this in public before.

So, why, this seems,

there's the public policyaspect, but it's also personal.

- It's very consistent withwhat the Trump administration

is trying to achieve withrespect to religious freedom.

But it also fits with my world view.

I'm an evangelical Christian.

I know that not everyoneshares that faith,

but it's important.

It's important not onlyto the Christians but

people of all faith havethe capacity to worship

in the way that they desire.

- [David] One of the biggestoffenders is North Korea

and Pompeo already hashis hands full there

negotiating with Kim Jong-un

to get rid of his nuclear weapons.

- We need to see Chairman Kim do

what he promised the world he would do.

- [David] North Korea'shuman rights record is just

as suspect as theirinaction on nuclear weapons.

The country ranks numberone as the most dangerous

country for Christians.

While Secretary Pompeo wouldn'treveal his conversations

with Kim, he did make one thing very clear

in our interview.

- I want your viewers toknow that the United States

rarely has an encounter with a country

where we don't raise human rights concerns

where they exist.

We know the history there in North Korea.

- [David] And the U.S.hopes to write a new chapter

with this historic conferenceto stop religious persecution

and make a difference around the world.

David Brody, CBN News, Washington.