11/28/2018, 00.00
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Pope: in Syria Christian communities tried by pain experienced in their faith

“Nothing more than martyrdom can mark the Christian way of participating in humanity’s history of salvation,” writes Francis in his response to a letter from two Franciscans who expressed the pain of their homeland.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis expressed his closeness to Syrian Christians in a letter to two Franciscans, Father Hanna and Father Louai, who wrote to him to share their testimony about the martyred land of Syria.

In thanking the two priests, the pontiff wrote “I wish to share in your sufferings and tell you that I am close to you and to the Christian communities, which are so tried by the pain experienced in their faith in Christ Jesus.

“How much suffering, how much poverty, how much pain of the suffering Jesus, who is poor, who is chased away from his country. It is Jesus! This is a mystery. It is our Christian mystery. In you and in the people of beloved Syria we see Jesus suffering."

“Nothing more than martyrdom can mark the Christian way of participating in humanity’s history of salvation. Martyrs carry forward the Kingdom of God, sow Christians for the future, are the true glory of the Church and our hope. Such testimony is a warning not to get lost even in the middle of the storm.

“Not a few times the sea of life has a storm awaiting us, but out of the existential waves we receive an unexpected sign of salvation: Mary, the Mother of the Lord, looks in astonishment and silence at her innocent, crucified Son who fills life and salvation with meaning.”

The Holy Father assured the Franciscan Fathers that he remembers them constantly in the Eucharistic Communion.

May the “unspeakable pain [. . .] be transfigured into the divine hope that the Apostle Paul confirmed in the Letter to the Romans: ‘What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.’”

Lastly, Pope Francis beseeched Our Lady to protect the Franciscans under her Cloak of Grace and intercede for them to receive the gift of perseverance. "I warmly bless you and all the Christian families entrusted in your courageous care."

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