Pope preaches on Christians who are being martyred ‘in the name of God’

May 12, 2015

Referring to the beheading of Coptic Christians by members of the Islamic State in Libya, Pope Francis devoted his May 11 weekday Mass homily to Christians who are being martyred “in the name of God.”

Reflecting on the words of Christ in the day’s Gospel-- “the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God”-- the Pope said that “today we are seeing those who kill Christians in the name of God because they think they are not believers.”

“I was remembering the faithful of [the Coptic Orthodox] Church who were slain on the beach because they were Christians,” the Pope continued. “Thanks to the strength given them by the Holy Spirit they were not scandalized. They died with the name of Jesus on their lips. This is the strength of the Spirit. The testimony. Martyrdom is the supreme testimony.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope: even today Christians are killed “in the name of God” (Vatican Radio)