Pope hails persecuted Christians as modern martyrs
ICC Note: This message from the Pope is an encouraging reminder to all Christians that suffering for the gospel is an act of love for Christ and for our persecutors.
12/26/07 Vatican City (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Wednesday that Christians faced persecution, torture and death in some parts of the world and continued to be made martyrs for their faith.
In a message to pilgrims on the day after Christmas -- the feast day of St. Stephen, considered the first Christian martyr -- the Pope said Christians who die for their faith pray for forgiveness for their killers.
"We should always note that this is a distinctive characteristic of the Christian martyr -- it is exclusively an act of love, towards God and towards men, including the persecutors," he told crowds in a rainy St. Peter's Square.
"Christian martyrdom reminds us of the victory of love over hatred and death," he said... [Go To Full Story]
(Reporting by Robin Pomeroy, editing by Tim Pearce)
