During the Angelus, the Pope recalled the murder of 4 Missionaries of Charity nuns in Yemen. He especially regretted that the crime did not get any media coverage.
POPE FRANCIS
'These are the martyrs of today! They are not on the front page of newspapers, they are not news. They are the people who give blood for the Church. These people are the victims of those who have murdered them but also of the indifference, of this global indifference of those who do not care.' The nuns were killed along with twelve other people in the nursing home where they worked.
The Pope sent his condolences Friday to the missionary and said he felt a deep sadness for the murder which he called, 'an act of senseless and diabolical violence.' He said he hoped that from now on the two parties will lay down their arms and engage in dialogue. The war in Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, began almost a year ago. It has killed about 9,000 people and displaced almost one million.
During the Angelus, Pope Francis also reflected on the parable of the prodigal son. He explained that God is a merciful father who does not get tired of waiting.
POPE FRANCIS
'The mistakes we make, even if they are large, do not harm the fidelity of his love. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, we can always start over.'
Finally, he expressed thanks for the joint initiative of the Community of Sant'Egidio, the Waldensian and Methodist Church, and the Evangelical Churches for providing an asylum in Italy for 100 Syrian refugees.
