Pope: May those who fight wars convert to fighting for peace

By Francesca Merlo

Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis invited all present to implore the Sacred Heart of Jesus “to touch the hearts of those who desire war, so that they may be converted to projects of dialogue and peace.”

He stressed, as he often does, the importance of continuing to pray for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Myanmar, as well as “many other places where there is so much suffering because of the war “.

A time of martyrdom

Greeting the pilgrims after the recitation of the Marian prayer, Pope Francis also recalled the celebration today, just one day after the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, of the liturgical commemoration of the first Roman martyrs, also known as the first martyrs of the Church of Rome. . “We too,” said the Pope, “we live in a time of martyrdom,” adding “even more than in the first centuries.”

He explained that in various parts of the world, “many of our brothers and sisters suffer discrimination and persecution because of their faith, thus nourishing the Church.” Others, he continued, face “white glove” martyrdom: a term the pope has used since the early years of his pontificate to denote a subtle form of persecution, by which Christians are hunted, marginalized and discriminated against in political life. and social life.

“Let us support them and let us be inspired by their witness of love for Christ,” the Pope concluded.