Vatican City - Pope Francis has said the heroic martyrdom of St. Stephen is mirrored in the persecution of modern-day Christians, particularly in the Middle East.
“When we read the history of the early centuries, here in Rome, we read about so much cruelty towards Christians,” the Pope said in a special Angelus address Dec. 26 for the feast of St. Stephen. “I tell you, there is this same cruelty today, and in greater numbers with Christians.”
“Today we want to think about them and to be close to them with our affection, our prayer and our tears.”
The Holy Father praised Catholics in the Middle East who gathered in the debris of a bombed out cathedral to celebrate Christmas Mass.
Pope Francis reflected on the day’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus warns his disciples that they will face persecution and rejection because of their faith.
He said St. Stephen was martyred because he chose to bring the light of Christ to every person.
The Pope also remembered St. Stephen’s feast day on Twitter, tweeting “let us remember the martyrs of today and yesterday.”
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