VATICAN CITY (CNS): Christian representatives from all over the world are expected to join Pope John Paul II in a prayer service today (Sunday) that will commemorate “new martyrs” of the 20th century, but without naming them.
The highlight of the ecumenical celebration at Rome’s ancient Colosseum will be the reading of testimonials for eight categories of Christian witnesses who died for the faith. Many of them were victims of communist regimes or Marxist groups.
A list of more than 12,000 new martyrs, based on names sent in by Christian communities around the globe, will eventually be presented to the Pope, but will not be published, Vatican officials said on April 28.
Officials said that most of the 12,000 names came from Europe. Those proposed from North America included the Rev Martin Luther King Jr, but the Vatican would not say whether his name would be on the list presented to the Pope at the end of the Jubilee Year.
Cardinal Etchegaray said the Pope’s initiative aims to show that martyrdom is not a divine call made to a few, but a normal part of the faith of every Christian.
`The prayer service was foreseen as a highlight of the Holy Year, the officials said. Many Christian Churches, including Orthodox, Protestant, Lutheran, Methodist and Anglican, have said they will send representatives.
