Vatican City, Jun 23, 2013 / 09:26 am
During his June 23 Angelus reflection, Pope Francis said the faithful are called to follow the example of the martyrs in losing their lives for Christ, even if they do not suffer violence for their faith.
"Both in the past and today, in many parts of the world there are martyrs, both men and women, who are imprisoned or killed for the sole reason of being Christian," he said, noting that there are more martyrs dying violent deaths in modern times than in the early centuries of the Church.
"But there is also the daily martyrdom, which does not result in death but is also a loss of life for Christ."
This "daily martyrdom" consists of people "doing their duty with love, according to the logic of Jesus," said the pontiff from the window of the Apostolic Palace to those gathered in St. Peter's Square.