December 26, 2023 / 08:08 AM
After the Marian prayer of the Angelus on December 26, Pope Francis renewed his desire for peace and good “that springs from the Lord’s Christmas” and asked for the intercession of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the Church whose feast is celebrated today.
In front of the faithful who listened to him from St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the Holy Father thanked them for the messages of good wishes they had received for Christmas, and was especially grateful for the prayers. “Continue praying for the Pope, there is a need,” he stated.
Within the framework of Saint Stephen’s Day, Pope Francis assured that he was close “to the Christian communities that suffer discrimination” and urged them to “persevere in charity towards all, fighting peacefully for justice and religious freedom.”