“You should never kill in the name of God, because for Him we are all brothers and sisters. But together we can give our lives for others,” Pope Francis said at the general audience, speaking of the martyrs of our day, reports ANSA, citing Rador.

“So let’s pray that we don’t get tired of witnessing to the Gospel even in times of trouble. May all the saints and martyrs be seeds of peace and reconciliation between peoples for a more humane and fraternal world,” added Pope Francis.

There are more martyrs for the faith “in our time than in the first centuries,” Pope Francis emphasized at the general audience. “Today there are many martyrs in the Church, because for professing the Christian faith they are excluded from society or sent to prison.” Some are even killed.

“However, the martyrs should not be considered as ‘heroes’ who acted individually, like flowers appearing in the desert, but as ripe and wonderful fruits from the Lord’s vineyard, which is the Church,” Pope Francis added.

Speaking about the “great generosity” of many Christians who profess their faith, the Sovereign Pontiff mentioned in particular the nuns of Mother Teresa, who were killed for their faith in Yemen.

“I am thinking, for example, of Yemen, a land that has been scarred for many years by a terrible, forgotten war that has caused so many deaths and that continues to make many people suffer, especially children. It was on this land that there were vivid testimonies of faith, such as the testimony of the Missionaries of Mercy nuns who gave their lives there.”

“Some of them were martyred, while others remained” and “provide assistance to the sick, elderly and disabled.”

“I welcome everyone, of any faith, because brotherhood and charity have no borders. In July 1998, Sister Aletta, Sister Zelia and Sister Michael were killed by a fanatic on their way home after mass because they were Christians’, and “recently”, shortly after the outbreak of the ongoing conflict, in March 2016, Sister Anselma, Sister Marguerite , Sister Reginette and Sister Judith were killed along with some lay people who were helping them in their charity work for the needy. They are the martyrs of our time.”

Pope Francis recalls that “among these murdered laymen, besides Christians, there were also Muslim believers who worked with the nuns. We are moved by how the testimony of blood can unite people of different religions,” concluded Pope Francis.