The Italian Catholic Bishops' Conference has called upon all communities to dedicate the Vigil of Pentecost (May 23, 2015) to prayer for contemporary martyrs
The Italian Catholic Bishops' Conference has called upon all communities to dedicate the Vigil of Pentecost (May 23, 2015) to prayer for contemporary martyrs (2015)

Dedicate the Vigil of Pentecost to the martyrs – #free2pray

 — May 7, 20157 mai 2015
from the Italian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CEI). Translation by Google.

The President of the CEI has decided to propose to all communities – not only Italian – the dedication of the next Vigil of Pentecost (May 23, 2015) to contemporary martyrs, to the tragedy of so many Christians and many people whose fundamental rights to life and to religious freedom are systematically violated: “This situation challenges us deeply and compels us to join in a grand gesture of prayer to God and closeness to these brothers.”

Here is the text of the statement:

“There is a strong bond that already unites us, beyond every division is the witness of Christians belonging to Churches and traditions, victims of persecution and violence just because of the faith they profess.” With these words, the Holy Father received members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (30 April 2015). This was only the last of many interventions by the Pope regarding the tragedy of so many Christians and many people whose fundamental rights to life and to religious freedom are systematically violated.

This situation challenges us deeply and compels us to unite ourselves, in Italy and in the world, in a grand gesture of prayer to God and closeness to these brothers and sisters. We implore the Lord, bowing down before the martyrdom of innocent people, we break the wall of indifference and cynicism, far from any sectarian or ideological exploitation. Hence the proposal to devote, in Italy and in all the communities in the world that want to join, the next Pentecost Vigil, Saturday, May 23, 2015, to the contemporary martyrs.

For this purpose CEI is also working on a project to spread — through social media — testimonies and stories from different countries: stories of faith and love extreme, sharing events, facts of charity. There are many Christians and people of all faiths that are called to witness the love at the cost of life. This witness cannot pass over in silence because it is a reason for the encouragement of all and good resistance to evil.

The Presidency of the CEI

Posted: May 7, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8312
Categories: News • In this article: Christian, persecution, prayer, religious freedom Transmis : 7 mai 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8312
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Christian, persecution, prayer, religious freedom


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