Pope Francis: Persecution comes in the guise of progress, modernity, and culture

CB Condez Thursday, April 14, 2016

Pope Francis, during the mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel in the Vatican on Tuesday, said that persecution is part of a Christian's daily life, but he also discussed two kinds of persecution.

Pope Francis speaks as he leads the Chrismal mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 24, 2016. | Reuters

The first reading during the mass was from the Book of Acts (7:51-8:1), which talks about the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, rebuking those who "always oppose the Holy Spirit." His words angered the elders and those in power, subsequently leading to him being dragged and stoned to death.

Pope Francis said that in every age, there are martyrs who die because of their faith. In this modern times, it is the "everyday men and women" who are persecuted and martyred, citing the bombing in Lahore, Pakistan on March 27.

"Only three weeks ago, those Christians celebrating Easter in Pakistan were martyred precisely because they were celebrating the risen Christ," the pope said, as quoted by the Catholic News Service. "And like so, the history of the church goes forward with its martyrs."

The pope, said the Catholic News Agency, also discussed the two kinds of persecution that Christians suffer from.

While the first kind is targeted at those who confess the name of Jesus, the second one is something that Pope Francis called "polite persecution," one disguised as progress, modernity, and culture, and it is something that "takes away from man and woman their freedom, as well as their right to conscientious objection."

The Pope said that it is the prince of the world aka the devil that heads this "polite persecution," with those in power making laws that make people go against their faith.

"Jesus has named the head of this 'polite' persecution: the prince of this world," he said. "And when the powerful want to impose behaviors, laws against the dignity of the son of God, they persecute them and go against God the Creator. It is the great apostasy."

He reminded the congregation that although Christians are persecuted, the Lord is always with them.