After the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father mentioned the beatification in Madrid, Spain yesterday of the Benedictine priests José Antón Gómex, Antolín Pablos Villanueva, Juan Rafael Mariano Alcocer Martínez and Luis Vidaurrázaga González, killed during the persecution against the Church in the last century. “Let us praise the Lord and entrust to their intercession the brothers and sisters who today, unfortunately, continue to be persecuted in various parts of the world for their faith in Christ”, he said.

The Pope also expressed his closeness to the inhabitants of Central Italy affected by the series of earthquakes that continue to devastate the region. “I pray for the injured and for those families who have suffered the most severe damages, as well as for rescue and aid workers. May the Risen Lord give them strength and may Our Lady protect them”.

He went on to greet pilgrims from Italy and other countries, especially from Ljubljana, Slovenia and Sligo, Ireland, as well as the participants in the world pilgrimage of hairdressers and beauticians, and other groups including Unitalsi Sardinia.

Francis spoke about his upcoming trip to Sweden to commemorate the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation, in which Catholics and Lutherans will unite in remembrance and prayer, and asked for prayers so that this encounter may be “a new stage in the path of fraternity towards full communion”.

The Pope wished all those present a good Sunday, and a happy Feast of All Saints.