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CNS Story:
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POPE-PERSECUTED Dec-26-2007 (230 words) With photo. xxxi
Pope marks first Christian martyr, says love inspires martyrs
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The love that led God to become human in Jesus Christ is the same love that motivates martyrs to forgive their persecutors, Pope Benedict XVI said.
With thousands of visitors standing in a cold rain in St. Peter's Square, the pope recited the Angelus at noon Dec. 26, the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
"The profound bond that links Christ to the first martyr, Stephen, is divine charity: The same love that pushed the Son of God to empty himself and be obedient even unto death on a cross, led the apostles and martyrs to give their lives for the Gospel," the pope said.
The feast day, he said, is a time to pray for all men and women around the world who suffer because of their fidelity to Christ and to the church.
"Still today news comes from various parts of the world about missionaries, priests, bishops, men and women religious and lay faithful persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, deprived of their freedom or prevented from exercising it because they are disciples of Christ and apostles of the Gospel," the pope said.
"Sometimes," he said, "they suffer and die even for communion with the universal church and fidelity to the pope."
The pope did not mention specific countries.
END
Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
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