Pope Francis described 20 Egyptian Christians massacred in Libya back in 2015 by Islamic State terrorists as saints and people of God, during a video broadcast made to commemorate the announcement of their martyrdom alongside another death from Ghana. Pope Francis said, “I carry in my heart the baptism of blood. These Christian men, baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, were also baptized on that day with blood. They are saints, the saints of all Christians, and the saints of all Christian denominations and traditions. Pope Francis concluded the video message, “I thank you for your testimony, O 21 saints, Christian saints of all Christian denominations … Let us pray today on the anniversary of the martyrdom of these twenty-one Coptic martyrs so that they may intercede for us all.”

Source: Egypt Independent February 17, 2021 11:48 UTC