Francis said this during his audience with the Moderator of the Church of Scotland (Reformed): “the blood of our brothers is a testimony that rings out”
Murdered for being Christian. Pope Francis is in no doubt about the reason why more than 20 Egyptian Copts were killed by jihadists of the so-called Islamic State. The Pope wished to express his “sentiments today at the execution of the Coptic Christians.” "They were murdered just because they were Christians … in the land of Jesus the blood of our Christian brothers is a testimony that shouts, whether they by Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Lutherans doesn't matter. The blood is the same.” Francis pronounced these words this morning – speaking off the cuff in Spanish – before concluding his audience with the Moderator of the Church of Scotland (Reformed), John Chalmers.
“These brothers, who died simply because they professed their faith in Jesus Christ, that the ecumenism of blood is still strong. The martyrs belong to different Christian denominations,” the Pope added in his address to John P. Chalmers, whom he called “brother”. The Pope had been talking about “what happens in the land of Jesus” where “the blood of our Christian brothers is a testimony of faith.”
“The Christian faith and testimony are faced with such challenges that only by joining forces can we effectively serve the human family and allow the light of Christ to reach every dark corner of our hearts and our world. May the path of reconciliation and peace between our communities continue to bring us closer to one another, so that guided by the Holy Spirit, we may bring life to everyone and bring it in abundance,” Francis said. “Let us pray for one another and continue to walk together along the path of wisdom, benevolence, fortitude and peace,” the Pope added.
