I wonder why he didn't use more recent examples of martyrdom, such as the English martyrs of the reformation or all those wo have lost their lives even more recently to the muslims and the communists.
Maybe it would't be PC, so he had to go back millenia for an example in order not to offend anybody?
The English martyrs died horrible deaths exactly for the reasons the Church is willing to concede today in ecumenism. And who can overlook the beheadings today in all parts of the world just for offering the Mass or even owning a Bible. But no mention???
Empty words! Say out loud that the Catholic Church is the only Church, not one among many. Then you can invoke the memory of the Holy Martyrs and the Communion of Saints.
"Empty words" ?
From the Pope.
What religion do you belong to?
The Holy Father was addressing the ITALIAN Eucharistic Congress. The theme of the Congress was taken specifically from a quote from the Italian martyrs. They were martyred for their insistence on celebrating the Eucharist in ITALY. If the Congress had been in England or some other country, or had been an International Congress, I would have assumed the Holy Father would have used an example appropriate to those audiences.