The Holy Father recalled that since ancient times Christians have shown great regard for those who offer their lives for the love of Christ and the Church.
Newsroom (15/11/2024 16:35, Gaudium Press): On Thursday, November 14, Pope Francis received the participants of the Congress ‘Martyrdom and the Giving of Life’, organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, in the audience.
The three fundamental elements of martyrdom
The Holy Father recalled that since ancient times, Christians have shown great respect for those who offer their lives out of love for Christ and the Church. Furthermore, martyrdom contains the characteristics of the perfect disciple, who, transformed by Jesus’s charity, renounced himself and took up his own Cross.
The concept of martyrdom has not changed, only the modalities.
The second element is that the murder was perpetrated by a persecutor driven by hatred of the Faith or another virtue related to it. Finally, the third element is that the victim assumes an unexpected attitude of charity, patience, and meekness, just like Our Lord when he was crucified.
Francis recalled that “even today, in many parts of the world, there are numerous martyrs who give their lives for Christ” and what changes in different eras is not the concept of martyrdom, but the concrete ways in which, in a given historical context, it happens. “In many cases, Christians are persecuted because, driven by their faith in God, they defend justice, truth, peace and the dignity of people,” he said. (EPC)
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
