Pope at Angelus: 'Let each one be loved without adjectives'.

From a sunny St Peter's Square the remembrance of today's martyrs, who suffer "thus fecundating the Church". The prayer that those who desire war "may be converted to projects of dialogue and peace". On the Word of the Day: "God does not discriminate against anyone because he loves everyone".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - After today's Angelus recitation, the last Sunday of the month of June in which the Holy First Martyrs of the holy Church of Rome are remembered, Pope Francis said that "we too live in a time of martyrdom.

Even more so than in the first centuries". The Pontiff recalled the many brothers and sisters around the world who suffer discrimination and persecution because of their faith. More than 365 million Christians are said to be persecuted in the world, says the annual report of Open Doors.

"Thus, they persecute the Church. Others then face white-glove martyrdom (hunted down "in an elegant way", ed.). Let us support them with our prayers and be inspired by their witness of love for Christ,' Bergoglio said.

This first summer month also ends with an invocation that there may soon be peace in the places lashed by violence. "On this last day of June, we implore the Sacred Heart of Jesus to touch the hearts of those who want war, so that they may be converted to projects of dialogue and peace," said the Bishop of Rome.

He then recalled the countries living in the maelstrom of conflict and suffering. "Brothers and sisters, let us not forget the martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and so many other places where people suffer so much because of war."

Pope Francis opened today's link from the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace with a commentary on the Gospel of the day (Mk 5:21-43). The passage from the evangelist Mark examined tells of two miracles performed by Jesus, which "seem to be intertwined with each other".

The first concerns the healing of a woman with haemorrhoea, who touches his cloak; the second is the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus, one of the leaders of the synagogue, who was seriously ill. Two healings told in a single episode.

"Both occur through physical contact. In fact, the woman touches Jesus' cloak and Jesus takes the little girl by the hand. Why is this touching important?" the Pontiff asked. First of all because the two women are considered 'impure', according to the culture of the time.

"Even before the physical healing, He challenges a religious misconception, according to which God separates the pure on one side and the impure on the other," he continued. In fact, God does not separate people and impurity does not concern the body, but rather "comes from an impure heart".

The Holy Father suggested that those listening learn that "in the face of suffering of body and spirit, of wounds to the soul, of situations that crush us", God does not keep His distance from human beings, but, on the contrary, "He draws near to let Himself be touched and to touch us, and He always raises us from death".

"He does not discriminate against anyone because He loves everyone," Francis added.

At the end of the commentary, a series of questions were shared to stimulate personal reflection.These included: "Do we enter into relationship with our brothers and sisters by offering them a hand to get up, or do we keep our distance and label people according to our tastes and preferences?" "I ask you a question: does God, the Lord Jesus, label people? Let each one answer," Bergoglio added.

"We need Church and society that do not exclude anyone, that do not treat anyone as impure, so that each person, with his or her own history, is welcomed and loved without labels, without prejudice. Be loved without adjectives."