Pope's 'Angelus' message on St. Stephen's feast

(December 26, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday called for the freedom of all hostages in the world, including two Italian nuns kidnapped last month in northern Kenya. The appeal for prayers and solidarity for hostages came as the Pope greeted pilgrims and tourists who turned up in St. Peter's Square on the feast of St. Stephen to pray the midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with him. Sr Maria Teresa Olivero, 61, and Sr Caterina Giraudo, 67, were seized on the night of November 9-10 along with their Kenyan driver when an armed gang from Somalia stormed the village of El Wak, near the Kenyan border with Somalia. Speaking after the ‘Angelus’, the Holy Father prayed that God “touches the hearts” of the kidnappers of the nuns so that the will soon be freed to resume their selfless work for the poorest. Without naming countries, Pope Benedict also lamented that hostages are held in Latin America, Middle East and Africa for political and other reasons.
Before the ‘Angelus’ the Pope reflected on the figure of St. Stephen, Christianity’s first martyr whose feast on the day after Christmas is a holiday in Italy and the Vatican. Recalling the most famous of the 7 deacons of the first Christian community of Jerusalem, the Pope said that Stephen was arrested and stoned because of his ardent and courageous preaching. Speaking in connection with the current Pauline Year, marking the 2000th birth anniversary of St. Paul, Pope Benedict went on to explain how the martyrdom of Stephen, in fact, brought about a radical change in the life of the zealous persecutor of the Church. Earlier known by the Jewish name of Saul, Paul had collaborated in the stoning of Stephen, and had witnessed how he died praying and forgiving his killers like Christ. After being struck down by the bright light on the way to Damascus, Paul realized that Stephen was now living with Christ, who died but was now truly risen. From that moment, the Pope said, Jesus became for Paul his justice, his salvation and everything, which one day would lead him in the very footsteps of Stephen, towards shedding his blood witnessing to the Gospel, in Rome. In St. Stephen, the Pope said, we see the first realization of salvation brought to humanity by the birth of Christ, namely, victory of life over death, of love over hatred, of light of truth over the darkness of falsehood. “We praise the Lord because victory permits many Christians even today not to respond evil for evil but with the strength of truth and love,” the Pope added.
Pope Benedict also addressed English-speaking pilgrims present at the 'Angelus' of Dec. 26. Listen: