A boy waits during a heavy rainfall before Pope Francis’ Mass at the Marian shrine, in Sumuleu Ciuc, Romania, Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Vadim Ghirda/Associated Press)BLAJ, Romania — Pope Francis paid homage Sunday to Catholics who were persecuted, tortured and killed during Romania’s communist regime by beatifying seven bishop martyrs on his third and final day in the country. Francis presided over the eastern rite liturgy in Blaj, a stronghold of the Greek-Catholic Church that was outlawed during communism. Francis is travelling across Romania to visit its far-flung Catholic communities. After Mass in Blaj, Francis will meet with people from the disadvantaged Roma minority before returning to the Vatican.

Source: Washington Post June 02, 2019 07:07 UTC