“Many brothers and sisters, even today, carry the same cross as our Lord on account of their witness to the faith in difficult situations and hostile contexts: like him, they are persecuted, condemned and killed. It is of them that Jesus says: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” 

On September 14th, Pope Leo XIV led an ecumenical commemoration of the martyrs and witnesses of faith of the 21st century at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The liturgy brought together Orthodox, Eastern, and Protestant leaders, along with ecumenical organizations and Vatican officials.

Pope Leo reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to keep alive the memory of martyrs from every Christian tradition, noting the collaboration of the Vatican’s Commission of New Martyrs with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

According to “Open Doors,” a global organization supporting persecuted Christinas, more than 380 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

In his homily, Pope Leo recalled the “ecumenism of blood” discussed at the Vatican's recent Synod on Synodality. Pope Francis said that the witness of Christian martyrs is “more eloquent than any word: unity comes from the Cross of the Lord.”

Further, speaking on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Pope Leo said that many believers still share in Christ’s cross:

“It is a hope filled with immortality because, even though they have been killed in body, no one can silence their voice or erase the love they have shown; it is a hope filled with immortality because their witness lives on as a prophecy of the victory of good over evil.”

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Adapted by Jacob Stein