The Pope-as is now customary in his public addresses-has asked for prayers for the war in Ukraine. «There are many flags here. Let us pray for the martyred people,» he said, leaning out from the balcony of his private study in the Apostolic Palace before thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear the Angelus on the day of St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Catholic Church.
Thus, he vindicated the figure of this saint and also recalled all Christians who today are persecuted for their faith: «Even in our days the martyrs are numerous. Today we pray for these persecuted brothers and sisters who bear witness to Christ».
He also asked to follow the example of St. Stephen who «did not limit himself to this work of assistance» but «shared his faith in the light of the Word of God and the teaching of the Apostles».
In this way, he pointed out that his greatest witness was that he knew how to unite charity to proclamation. «And he gave us this witness when he was about to die, when, following the example of Jesus, he forgave his murderers. Here, then, is the answer to our question: we can improve our witness through charity towards our brothers and sisters, fidelity to the Word of God and forgiveness. Charity, Word and forgiveness».
Precisely, Francis asked families to make an effort to adopt attitudes of «openness and reconciliation» in the face of the possibility of meeting at this time with people with whom they do not have a good relationship and urged them to stimulate the «capacity to forgive».
«We must think about our ability to forgive, especially in these days, in which we can meet, among many others, some people with whom we have not gotten along well, who have hurt us, with whom we have never mended our relationship,» he urged.
The Pontiff asked the faithful to have «the strength to pray» for those who have «hurt» them and thus take steps «of openness and reconciliation».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
