At the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, Pope Leo XIV marked the Commemoration of Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith in the 21st Century with representatives from Christian denominations and communities around the world.
In his homily, the Pope reflected on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, reminding the faithful that the cross was transformed from a symbol of torture into “the means of our salvation, hope of Christians, and the glory of martyrs” (according to Vatican News). He encouraged Catholics to look to the cross where Jesus “revealed to us the true face of God, his infinite compassion for humanity,” taking upon Himself the hatred of the world “to share the lot of all those who are humiliated and oppressed.”
Pope Leo emphasized that Christian martyrs demonstrate that “love is stronger than death” (according to Vatican News). He reminded listeners that many Christians today still “carry this cross through their witness to the faith in difficult situations and hostile contexts: like him, they are persecuted, condemned, and killed.”
Highlighting modern examples of this courage, Pope Leo spoke of Sister Dorothy Stang, who told her murderers that her Bible was her only weapon, and of Fr. Ragheed Ganni, who gave his life in Mosul, Iraq, refusing to take up arms so as to remain faithful to Christ’s Gospel of peace. He also remembered Brother Francis Tofi of the Melanesian Brotherhood, who died while working for peace in the Solomon Islands.
The Pope insisted, “We cannot and do not want to forget… we want to remember” (according to Vatican News). He urged the faithful to keep the memory of martyrs alive, noting that the “ecumenism of blood unites Christians of different backgrounds who together give their lives for faith in Jesus Christ.”
Before concluding, Pope Leo shared the story of Abish Masih, a young Pakistani Catholic who was killed in an attack on his parish. The child had written in his notebook, “Making the world a better place.” Pope Leo called on the faithful to let this dream inspire them to be “leaven for a peaceful and fraternal humanity.”
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Catholics are reminded that the witness of the martyrs is “an unarmed hope” — a prophetic sign that evil cannot silence the Gospel. Their courage calls each of us to deeper faith, greater unity, and a renewed commitment to follow Christ, even when the cost is high.
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