Just a day after delivering a powerful Urbi Et Orbi message calling upon the world to embrace humility and peace, Pope Francis expressed hope that the world community will not be “silent and inactive” in the fact of the unspeakable crimes being committed against Christians around the world.

Vatican Radio is reporting that while addressing participants in a relay race aimed at raising awareness of persecuted Christians yesterday, the pope called upon the world to stand up for the persecuted faithful.

“Your itinerary on the streets is over, but what must continue on the part of all is the spiritual journey of prayer, intense prayer, the concrete participation and tangible help in the defense and protection of our brothers and sisters, who are persecuted, exiled, killed, beheaded, for the only reason of being a Christian,” Franics told members of the Shalom Community at the end of his Easter Monday Regina Coeli Address.

“They are our martyrs today and they are many; we are able to say that they are more numerous than in the first centuries,” Pope Francis said. “I sincerely hope that the international community does not look the other way.”

The plight of the persecuted is very much on his mind and a plea for their relief was included in his annual Easter Urbi et Orbi Address.

“From the risen Lord we ask the grace not to succumb to the pride which fuels violence and war, but to have the humble courage of pardon and peace,” he said in the Address. “We ask Jesus, the Victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence.”

For the Syrian and Iraqi people who have been ravaged by “the roar of arms”, he called upon the international community to aid those suffering from the immense human tragedy that is unfolding in those countries.

He called for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians and resumption of peace talks.

In Libya, he prayed that “absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence may cease” and that the people of Yemen might work together for the good of all the people.

In Nigeria, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he asked for the Lord’s gift of peace and paid particular attention to the 150 Christian students who lost their lives last week at the University College in Garissa, Kenya.

He also prayed for the people of the Ukraine to “rediscover peace and hope”.

His message included a plea for the poor and the marginalized, and for freedom for all people who are subject to enslavement from any group, for the victims of drug and arms dealers.

“The world proposes that we put ourselves forward at all costs, that we compete, that we prevail… But Christians, by the grace of Christ, dead and risen, are the seeds of another humanity, in which we seek to live in service to one another, not to be arrogant, but rather respectful and ready to help,” he said.

“This is not weakness, but true strength! Those who bear within them God’s power, his love and his justice, do not need to employ violence; they speak and act with the power of truth, beauty and love.”

His message concluded with a wish that “all men and women of goodwill, hear the consoling voice of the Lord Jesus: ‘Peace to you!’ (Lk 24:36). ‘Fear not, for I am risen and I shall always be with you’.”

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