Coinciding with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Vatican honored the martyrs and witnesses of the faith from the 21st century. Since the year 2000, 1,624 Christians have been killed for their faith. Their stories have been collected over 25 years by bishops’ conferences, religious orders, and nunciatures worldwide. Pope Leo presided over the service, joined by leaders from Orthodox, Eastern, and Protestant churches. Reflecting on the modern-day martyrs, the Pope emphasized that “they bore witness to their faith without ever using the weapons of force and violence, but rather by embracing the hidden and meek power of the Gospel.” He also affirmed that their sacrifice embodies the theme of the Jubilee Year: hope—a hope “filled with immortality” that continues to spread the Gospel in a world marked by war, hatred, and violence. EWTN Vatican journalist Bénédicte Cedergren has more.

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