Pope Francis: Christian Persecution in Iraq and Syria is Far More Than Just 'Genocide'

Leah Marieann Klett : Jun 24, 2016
Gospel Herald

At the time of their death, all of the martyrs cried out, "Jesus, help me!"

"[These men] were witnesses of the faith," the pontiff said.

[Gospel Herald] Pope Francis has said the atrocities perpetrated against Christians in Iraq and Syria are far more than just "genocide," and should be correctly described as "persecution" and "martyrdom." (Photo Credit: REUTERS/Social Media Website via Reuters TV)

"I want to say clearly, I do not like it when one speaks of a genocide of Christians, for instance in the Middle East," the Pope said during a question-and-answer session on Saturday at the Villa Nazareth University College in Rome. "This is reductionism! The truth is a persecution which leads Christians to have fidelity to the consistency of their faith."

This "sociological reductionism" does not apply to "that which is a mystery of the faith, the martyr!"

Pope reflected on the faith of the 21 Coptic Christian martyrs who were beheaded by ISIS fighters on the beach in Libya last February. At the time of their death, all...

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