Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The 20th century was a century of genocide and totalitarianism, but also of new martyrs and great witnesses. The mystery of iniquity and the mystery of equity. This is the underlying theme of a new edition of a book in Italian written by Andrea Riccardi “Il secolo del martirio”, (the century of martyrdom) presented by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prof. Adriano Roccucci, the author and Roberto Saviano in the Basilica di san Bartolomeo all’Isola. A highly significant place since the church is dedicated to the martyrs of the 20th century. A martyr is one who bears witness to the faith. This book is the only study-essay which speaks of those who lived to the extreme their faithfulness to the Gospel of life in recent decades.
“Today –Cardinal Sepe remarked– we have urgent need of ethics and morals in order to combat the evils of society and lay solid foundations.” Martyrs are a strong voice, a signal, a challenge for all men and women. Theirs is a life lived to the full, a life which gives life, which generates life. “This is why – the Cardinal added – we need people whose lives reveal the profound values of humanity.” “The connection between wars, persecutions and violence was evident - according to Prof. Roccucci – especially in the Soviet society, emblematic for having planned total rejection of God and spiritual values. War on the faith generated the space for violence and persecution.” The book is a tale of lives, of experiences of men and women, who paid in person for being open to God, for trusting in God, for the good and the salvation of the whole world. (M.T.) (Agenzia Fides 2/7/2009; righe 22, parole 290)
