Proclaiming Gospel today ‘carries a price’

In his homily last Friday at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis warned the faithful to expect persecution for following Christ, writes James Roberts. “All the people whom the Holy Spirit chooses to tell the truth to the People of God suffer persecution,” said Pope Francis – and Jesus “is precisely the model, the icon”. The Lord took upon himself “all the persecutions of his people”.

“I dare say,” Pope Francis added, “there are as many or more martyrs now than in the early days, because they tell the truth and proclaim Christ Jesus to a worldly society in love with ease and keen to avoid problems.”

“There is the death penalty or imprisonment for having the Gospel at home, for teaching the Catechism, today, in some parts of the world. A Catholic from one of these countries told me that … people can only pray alone and in secret – but they want to celebrate the Eucharist and how do they do it?” Pope Francis asked. “They throw a birthday party, they pretend to celebrate the birthday and [have Mass] before the ‘party’. When they see the police arrive, they hide everything. Then, when [the authorities] leave, they finish [the Mass]. They have to do this, because it is forbidden to pray together: in this very day.”