Christianity most persecuted religion today, says Vatican official

(January 18, 2011) Today, Christianity is the most persecuted religion, said the President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, pointing out that in 2008, of the 2.2 billion Christians in the world, 230 million were victims because of their faith. Cardinal Kurt Koch made this statement on Monday, the eve of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that concludes on 25^th January. The theme of this Week held annually worldwide is “United in the teaching of the Apostles, in communion in the breaking of bread and in prayer”.
Cardinal Kurt said the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity this year, brings us back to the beginning of the ecumenical movement and shows that it is definitely not the time for resignation, but for assignation of our ecumenical responsibility to face the challenges of today. Noting that the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began much earlier than the Second Vatican Council, the prelate said even today the work of ecumenism has need of spiritual depth. In particular, ecumenical spirituality reminds us that Christian unity is a gift of God and it remains to us Christians, to make supreme efforts to reach that unity. The ecumenical hope is fed primarily by the conviction that the ecumenical movement is the great work of the Holy Spirit. We shall be lacking in faith if we fail to believe that the same Spirit will accomplish what he has started and will move wherever He wishes.
Cardinal Koch said it is significant that in the centenary year of the World Conference on the Mission, Pope Benedict XVI has created the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization. He added that all the churches in Christian territories have an urgent need for renewed missionary zeal. Cardinal Koch concluded saying we must live in hope that the blood of the martyrs of our Time may one day become the seed of full unity of the Body of Christ.