Pope says slain nuns are modern-day martyrs
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
says that the four nuns who were killed in Yemen are modern-day martyrs and
victims of indifference.
During his address to the
faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square after the Angelus prayer, the Pope
prayed for the slain nuns who belonged to Mother Teresa’s “Missionaries of
Charity” and who were serving in a home for the elderly which was attacked on
Friday by gunmen in the city of Aden.
Expressing his closeness to
the religious Order, he said the nuns “gave their blood for the Church”' and
that they were not only victims of the attackers but also of “this indifference
of globalization.”
The nuns were among 16 people
killed during an attack by terrorists who stormed the retirement home.
Pope Francis also praised an
ecumenical project to fly refugees to Europe as “a concrete sign of commitment
for peace and life.”
He described the “pilot” project
as a reality that unites solidarity with security allowing the safe transfer of
people who are fleeing war and violence, such as the “one hundred refugees who
have already arrived in Italy and amongst whom there are minors, sick people,
disabled people, war widows with children and elderly people”.
The group that arrived in
Rome last month represents the first wave of the planned transfer of 1,000
particularly vulnerable refugees from camps in Lebanon, Morocco and Ethiopia.
Pope Francis said he is particularly
happy the initiative is an ecumenical one that sees the support of the
Community of Saint Egidio, the Federation of Italian Evangelical Churches, the
Waldensian and the Methodist Churches.
Meanwhile, during his
catechesis Pope Francis reflected on the parable of the prodigal son saying
that God gives us the freedom to make mistakes, but he always welcomes us back
to the fold with open arms.
Jesus, he said, teaches us to
be merciful just as the Father is, and he warned against pride and arrogance
that can derive from feelings of righteousness. That kind of attitude, he said,
is evil. The Lord welcomes those who recognize their sinfulness.
The Pope concluded his
catechesis saying that God loves us immeasurably and comes towards us with
tenderness when we approach Him after having wandered.
“He welcomes us, Pope Francis
concluded, and restores our dignity as God’s children.”
(Linda Bordoni)
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