At Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s SquareVATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Palm Sunday remembered Christians who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Following the proclamation of the Passion according to St. Mark at Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis delivered a homily, in which he reflected on the plight of all those who endure humiliation because of their faithfulness to the Gospel, all those who face discrimination and pay a personal price for their fidelity to Christ.
“We think too of our brothers and sisters who are persecuted because they are Christians,” he said, “the martyrs of our own time.” The Holy Father went on to say, “They refuse to deny Jesus and they endure insult and injury with dignity. They follow Him on His way.”
The reflection came at the end of his brief Palm Sunday homily, which was intensely focused on the way of humility that Christ chose to undertake for our salvation. “This is God’s way, the way of humility,” he said. “It is the way of Jesus; there is no other.”
The Holy Father concluded with a call to all the faithful to undertake the Way of the Cross, which leads to salvation and eternal life, with new dedication and devotion during Holy Week. “Let us set about with determination along this same path,” said Pope Francis, “with immense love for Him, our Lord and Savior. Love will guide us and give us strength. For where He is, we too shall be (cf. Jn 12:26).”
