Pope Francis on Monday denounced the murder of 21 Coptic Christians by ISIL militants in Libya.
Speaking in Spanish to an ecumenical delegation from the Church of Scotland, the Holy Father noted those killed only said “Jesus help me.”
“They were killed simply for the fact they were Christians,” Pope Francis said adding that
“The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard,”
Pope Francis said, “It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. They are Christians! Their blood is one and the same. Their blood confesses Christ.''
Pope Francis said that in remembering these brothers and sisters who have been murdered simply for confessing Christ, Christians should encourage one another in the ecumenical goal, noting the “ecumenism of blood.”
“The martyrs belong to all Christians,” he said.
As he prepared to begin Mass in the Santa Marta Chapel, on Tuesday 17th February the Holy Father invited the congregation to join him in prayer for ‘our brother Copts, whose throats were slit for the sole reason of being Christian, that the Lord welcome them as martyrs, for their families, for my brother Tawadros, who is suffering greatly’.
He then prayed: “Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me; guide me, for the sake of your name”.
Monday evening the Pope had made a personal phone call to Patriarch Tawadros, who is the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, to express his sorrow at the brutal murder.
During his homily the Pope spoke of man’s capability for evil and destruction and condemned what he termed ‘merchants of death’, business people who sell arms to those at war, furthering a cycle of hate, fratricide and violence.
Pope Francis was reflecting on the passage from Genesis that speaks of God’s wrath at man’s wickedness that is a prelude to the great flood. Pope Francis noted with regret that man, "seems to be more powerful than God", because he is capable of destroying the good things that God has made.
SOURCE: Radio Vatican
