During the Angelus, the Pope prays to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to “touch the hearts of those who perpetuate conflicts”. He then urges the faithful not to forget Ukraine, the Holy Land, Myanmar, and countries affected by violence. Remembering the Roman proto-martyrs, he states that we still “live in a time of martyrdom, more so than in the early centuries”: “In various parts of the world, many endure discrimination and persecution for their faith, some even experience a martyrdom in white gloves.”
By: Salvatore Cernuzio – Vatican News
Published Date:
In the last Angelus of June, the month traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Francis invokes Christ’s intercession for a conversion of those who fuel the spiral of conflicts – drawing on it, as he recently said to Roaco, “profits and advantages” – and instead employ their energies, resources, and responsibilities in initiatives aimed at building a future of peace, just, and enduring for the peoples.
Let us implore the Sacred Heart of Jesus to touch the hearts of those who desire war, so that they may convert to projects of dialogue and peace.
A prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose 350th anniversary of the apparition to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1673) is celebrated this year, was already raised to heaven by Francis on June 5th, at the end of the general audience, also announcing the drafting of a new document on this devotion, to be published in September, to reflect on the aspects of “the love of the Lord” but also to send a “significant message to a world that seems to have lost its heart.”
Do not forget the lands torn by violence. A world that risks becoming accustomed to the violence that takes place in other territories. For this reason, the Pope once again urges the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square under the summer heat, as well as all those connected via streaming to the Sunday gathering, to pray and not forget the countries torn by violence.
Brothers and sisters, let us not forget the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and many other places where people suffer greatly due to war.
Many martyrs today, even more than in the early centuries. Also in the greetings after the Angelus, the Pope recalls the liturgical memory of today, immediately after the celebration of the Apostles Peter and Paul, of the Roman Proto-Martyrs, also known as the Saints First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. All those nameless martyrs who, alongside Peter and Paul, perished in the anti-Christian persecutions during the time of Nero. An example of faith that, as Francis affirms as he has done on many other occasions, has never stopped. Rather.
We also live in a time of martyrdom even more so than in the early centuries, in various parts of the world, many brothers and sisters endure discrimination and persecution because of their faith, thus nourishing the Church.
Martyrdom in “white gloves”. Others then face “a martyrdom in white gloves,” adds the Pope, using a phrase from the early years of his pontificate to indicate that subtle persecution, through which Christians are “elegantly” driven away, sidelined, and discriminated against in political and social life. Not only in challenging places but also in Europe itself. For all these people, Jorge Mario Bergoglio asks for prayers.
Let us support them with our prayers and be inspired by their testimony of love for Christ.
