Pope: ‘The Blood of Our Christian Brothers and Sisters…Cries Out to Be Heard’

(CNSNews.com) – Speaking to representatives from the Church of Scotland on Monday, Pope Francis spoke of the beheading of 21 Coptic Christian Egyptians by Islamic State terrorists in Libya.

Here is what the pope said on the matter:

“I would now like to turn to my native tongue to express feelings of profound sorrow. Today I read about the execution of those twenty-one or twenty-two Coptic Christians. Their only words were: “Jesus, help me!” They were killed simply for the fact that they were Christians. You, my brother, in your words referred to what is happening in the land of Jesus. The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard. It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. They are Christians! Their blood is one and the same. Their blood confesses Christ. As we recall these brothers and sisters who died only because they confessed Christ, I ask that we encourage each another to go forward with this ecumenism which is giving us strength, the ecumenism of blood. The martyrs belong to all Christians.

“Let us pray for one another, and continue to advance in the way of wisdom, good will, strength and peace.”

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