Following through on a promise

Yesterday, the Director of the Vatican Press Centre, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ informed journalists that the Holy Father had called the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Holiness, Pope Tawadros II to express his profound sharing in the pain being experienced by the Coptic Church because of the recent barbaric murder of Coptic Christians by Islamic fundamentalists.  Pope Francis assured Pope Tawadros II of his prayer and told him that today, the day on which the funerals of the victims are to be celebrated, he would be spiritually united in prayer and sharing the suffering of the Coptic Church during the celebration of his morning Mass.

This morning, at the beginning of his homily during the Mass celebrated at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis invited those present to pray for the Coptic Christians who had been sequestered at Sirte and barbarically assassinated.

Words of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

before beginning the Mass in the chapel

at the Casa Santa Marta

Let us offer this Mass for our 21 Coptic brothers, slaughtered solely because they were Christians.  Let us pray for them, that the Lord may welcome them as martyrs, for their families, and for my brother Tawadros, who is suffering so much.

Be for me a defence, O God, a rock and a fortress to save me, for you are my fortress and my refuge; for your name's sake, lead me and guide me (Psalm 71:3).