Pope urges Christian unity: 'When they kill a Christian they don't ask, Are you Catholic?'
VATICAN CITY —
Pope Francis appealed on Friday to faithful from all Christian churches
to put divisions aside and concentrate on what unites them amid the
persecution and slaying of Christians in parts of the world.
"The blood of today's martyrs makes us one," Francis told some 30,000 people in St. Peter's Square.
He cited the slaying of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic militants in Libya in February.
"When
those who hate Jesus Christ kill a Christian, before killing him, they
don't ask, 'Are you Lutheran, or Orthodox, or Evangelical or Baptist or
Methodist?'" the pope said. Francis added that these killers say "'You
are Christian' and they cut off their heads."
"If the enemy unites us in death, who are we to divide ourselves in life?" Francis asked rhetorically.
He urged Christians to seek "unity in diversity of expression" through common prayer and practicing charity together.
Orthodox
patriarchs, Anglican and Lutheran bishops and Evangelical pastors
joined cardinals and other Vatican prelates in attending the spiritual
renewal gathering.
With his head bowed, Francis listened as tenor Andrea Bocelli and other performers sang "Amazing Grace." He begins "Amazing Grace" at Minute 13, second 28:
5 comments:
Can't he send in some Knights?
I do not hear priests talking about those killed by Muslims, either. The silence is a horrible admission of fear on the part of the clergy, imho.
Our parish has offered prayers for the victims of ISIS. I wish our local priests tied the homily to events happening today. While I don't expect priests to be presenting world news, I would hope that an attempt to apply current events would help the flock (and the young) comprehend the relevance of the readings.
Dylann Roof went into a church and killed more American Christians than ISIS has.
I've been waiting for a priest to speak out against hate and extremism at home.
Pope Francis is absolutely correct, of course. As the saying goes, “united we stand, divided we fall.” Sometimes I wonder what God must think about our constant squabbling (and worse) – over Him no less (although the squabbling and worse are not really mainly about Him are they, when it gets right down to it?).
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