Vatican City, Jan 30, 2017 / 10:37 am
Pope Francis said Monday the strength of the Church does not reside primarily in grand gestures, but in the quiet faith of Christians in minority areas, who continue to practice even in the face of persecution and martyrdom.
"We are pleased when we see a great ecclesial act, which has been a great success, the Christians revealing themselves," he said in his homily during Mass at the chapel of the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta Jan. 30. "And this is beautiful! Is this strength? Yes, it is strength."
"But the greatest strength of the Church today is in the small Churches, tiny, with few people, persecuted, with their bishops in prison," he continued. "This is our glory now, this is our glory and our strength today."
In his homily, Francis called out those who do not experience this kind of persecution, yet complain about small grievances: "This is the glory of the Church and our support," he said, "and also our humiliation."