On the occasion of the feast of the holy protomartyrs of Rome, which the Church celebrates every June 30, the traditional Mass and Eucharistic procession took place in Vatican City.
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The Holy Mass, celebrated on Thursday, June 27 in the church of Our Lady of Mercy of the Teutonic Cemetery, was presided over by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
At the end, a solemn Eucharistic procession took place, animated by the Pontifical Musical Band, along the avenues of Vatican City.
Members of the Pontifical Academy participated in this traditional procession Cults of the Martyrsnumerous faithful, representatives of the Swiss Guard and the Gendarmerie and also members of the Association of Saints Peter and Paul.
Who were the holy protomartyrs of Rome?
Every June 30 the Church remembers the saints protomartyrs of Romewho died during the first persecution in history organized against the Catholic Church, in the second half of the 1st century.
They suffered terrible torments and gave their lives just to call themselves “Christians,” followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
Consequently, they were granted the title of “protomartyrs” – a term from ancient Greek – which means “first martyrs” or “first witnesses.”
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
I am a graduate in Journalism and Advertising from the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. I have been a senior correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN Noticias in the Vatican for two years and I am currently a European correspondent based in Spain.