• Pope Francis on Monday expressed his hope that the international community does not look on, “silent and inactive”, in the face of the “unacceptable crime” of the persecution of Christians around the world.

    The Holy Father was speaking to the Shalom Community at the end of his Easter Monday Regina Coeli Address. The Community had sponsored a relay which ended in St. Peter’s Square to show solidarity with and raise awareness of persecuted Christians.

    “Your itinerary on the streets is over, but what must continue on the part of all is the spiritual journey of prayer, intense prayer; the concrete participation and  tangible help in the defense and protection of our brothers and sisters, who are persecuted, exiled, killed, beheaded,  for the only reason of being a Christian,” said Pope Francis.

    “They are our martyrs today and they are many; we are able to say that they are more numerous than in the first centuries,” Pope Francis said. “I sincerely hope that the international community does not look the other way,” he added.