Papa Leone XIV: "Lo stile del cristiano disinnesca la contrapposizione con l’efficacia della mitezza"

Pope Leo XIV said that the Christian way of life defuses opposition through gentleness rather than seeking confrontation. Speaking to participants of a conference organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Pope addressed the theme of whether the 21st century represents a new era of martyrs.

The Pope described new martyrs as brothers and sisters who have given their lives for the Gospel across various historical, political, and geographic contexts. He noted that many are killed by criminal organizations or through the abuse of power because they oppose injustices in the name of the Gospel. He explained that the term witnesses of the faith is used to honor complex historical situations where the killers' motives may not be explicitly linked to hatred of the faith.

Leo XIV stated that the evangelizing strength of these witnesses serves as a major resource for the Church to announce the Gospel today.