Pope Francis: After 2,000 Years the Persecution of Christians Continues

The pope observed that the saint was “a man of good repute, who served food to the poor and administered charity,” adding that it was precisely this integrity and unwavering witness to faith that “unleash[ed] the wrath of his adversaries, who stone[d] him to death mercilessly.” 

The pope asked the faithful to juxtapose the figure of St. Stephen, the persecuted, with that of Saul, who later became St. Paul, or “the persecutor,” as a way to understand the process of conversion. 

Noting that there was a seemingly “impenetrable wall between them,” the pope underscored the importance of going “beyond appearances,” as it was through St. Stephen’s willingness to die for the faith that the Lord helped germinate the seeds of conversion that led Paul to become a “great apostle.”

“Do I care about and pray for those who, in various parts of the world, still suffer and die for the faith today? So many who are murdered for their faith. And in turn, do I try to bear witness to the Gospel consistently, with meekness and confidence? Do I believe that the seed of goodness will bear fruit even if I do not see immediate results?” the pope asked. 

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After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father renewed his appeal for peace in light of the spirit of the Nativity of the Lord, a theme that has been at the center of the pontiff’s catechesis during this year’s Advent.

The Holy Father emphasized his closeness to the “Christian communities who suffer discrimination, and I urge them to persevere in charity toward all, striving peacefully for justice and religious freedom,” adding: “I also entrust the invocation of peace of war-torn peoples to the intercession of the first martyr.” 

The papal address closed with the pope bringing attention to ongoing global conflicts: “The media show us what war produces: We have seen Syria, we see Gaza. Think of tormented Ukraine. A desert of death. Is this what we want? The people want peace. Let us pray for peace. Let us strive for peace.”