Pope decries persecution of Christians

November 05, 2015

In a message to an ecumenical conference, Pope Francis lamented the rising persecution of Christians.

“I think with great sadness of the escalating discrimination and persecution against Christians in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere throughout the world,” the Pope wrote in his message to Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, as the Global Christian Forum held a conference in Tirana devoted to the theme of “discrimination, persecution, martyrdom: following Christ together.”

The Pope added:

In various parts of the world, the witness to Christ, even to the shedding of blood, has become a shared experience of Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Protestants, Evangelicals and Pentecostals, which is deeper and stronger than the differences which still separate our Churches and Ecclesial Communities. The communio martyrum [communion of martyrs] is the greatest sign of our journeying together. At the same time, your gathering will give voice to the victims of such injustice and violence, and seek to show the path that will lead the human family out of this tragic situation.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Messaggio del Santo Padre ai partecipanti al “Global Christian Forum” (Tirana, 2-4 novembre 2015) (Holy See Press Office)
• Global Christian Forum