This prayer is based on public comments of Pope Francis on the Feast of St. Stephen in 2016.
By choosing the truth, Christ became at the same time the victim of the mystery of evil present in the world – but He has conquered… Today the Church is experiencing severe persecution in different places, up to the supreme test of martyrdom… How many of our brothers and sisters in faith suffer abuse, violence, and are hated because of Jesus… We want to think about them and be close to them with our affection, our prayer, and also our tears.
When we read the history of the early centuries, here in Rome, we read about so much cruelty towards Christians. There is this same cruelty today, and in greater numbers with Christians. In making space within our heart to the Son of God… let us renew the joyous and courageous willingness to follow him faithfully as our only guide, persevering in living according to the mind of the Gospel and refusing the mentality of the rulers of this world. Amen.