Pope Francis remembered the victims of violence over the past week in attacks taking place in Norway, Afghanistan, and the UK. He also recalled the beatification of Fr. Juan Elías Medina and 126 companions martyred in Spain in the 1930s.

Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis expressed his closeness to families who lost loved ones in attacks that took place last week in Norway, Afghanistan, and the UK, expressing his sadness over the numerous deaths and injured people. He also appealed to the perpetrators to abandon the way of violence, which is always a defeat for everyone and only leads to further violence. 

Speaking at the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, he also remembered the beatification yesterday in Cordoba, Spain, of Fr. Juan Elías Medina and 126 martyred companions, made up of priests, religious, seminarians, and laity killed in hatred of the faith during the violent religious persecution in Spain in the 1930s. He said, “May their fidelity grant us all strength, especially persecuted Christians in various parts of the world, the strength to witness to the Gospel courageously.”