Pope Leo XIV entrusts persecuted Christians to the martyrs' intercession

At his first general audience since his apostolic trip to France, Pope Leo XIV addressed the Polish faithful and recalled the witness of Blessed Wincenty Lewoniuk and his 12 companion martyrs. Leo said their intercession matters both for the unity of Christians and for those who suffer persecution today because of their faith.

Leo recalled that three decades ago Pope John Paul II declared Lewoniuk and his companions Blessed. The martyrs remained faithful to the Catholic Church and to unity with the Successor of St. Peter to the point of giving their lives, while keeping their own Eastern tradition. The pope linked that witness to unity among the disciples of Christ and to the persecution Catholics face in the world today.

He told the Polish faithful: "Praised be Jesus Christ! Thirty years ago, Blessed John Paul II beatified Wincenty Lewoniuk and his twelve companion martyrs. They defended their membership in the Catholic Church and unity with the Successor of St. Peter to the point of shedding their blood, while remaining loyal to their Eastern tradition. To their intercession I entrust the unity of the disciples of Christ and the Catholics who are persecuted today for their faith."

The audience, held Wednesday, drew many groups of pilgrims from Poland. Among them were the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo in Trzebnica, together with their staff, and teachers and students from the Piarist school dedicated to St. Joseph Calasanz in Poznań. Groups also came from the parishes of St. Joseph in Żagań and St. Joseph Guardian of Families in Łęczna, and from St. Mary Magdalene parish in the Wawrzyszew district of Warsaw, along with individual pilgrims from Poland and abroad.