Vatican City, 21 June, 2020 / 12:41 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis on Sunday encouraged Christians to fear sin, not the hostility, violence, or persecution they may face when sharing the Gospel with the world.
“Jesus advises these disciples of yesterday and today who suffer persecution: ‘do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul,’” the pope said Sunday from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
Speaking before the Angelus prayer, he said, “there is no need to be frightened of those who seek to extinguish the evangelizing force with arrogance and violence.”
In his catechesis, Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel, with Jesus’ exhortation to his disciples to “not be afraid.”
The pope also spoke about the many Christians persecuted around the world even today. “They suffer for the Gospel with love, they are the martyrs of our day,” he said.