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Vatican City, Dec 26, 2016 / 10:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has said the heroic martyrdom of St. Stephen is mirrored in the persecution of modern-day Christians, particularly in the Middle East.

“When we read the history of the early centuries, here in Rome, we read about so much cruelty towards Christians,” the Pope said in a special Angelus address Dec. 26 for the feast of St. Stephen. “I tell you, there is this same cruelty today, and in greater numbers with Christians.”

“Today we want to think about them and to be close to them with our affection, our prayer and our tears.”

The Holy Father praised Catholics in the Middle East who gathered in the debris of a bombed out cathedral to celebrate Christmas Mass.

“[Theirs] is an example of fidelity to the Gospel,” the Pope said of the Middle East Catholics. “Despite the trials and the dangers, they bear witness with courage to their belonging to Christ and they live the Gospel.”

Pope Francis reflected on the day’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus warns his disciples that they will face persecution and rejection because of their faith.

The Pope said the world persecutes Christians for the same reason it persecutes Jesus; because Christians and Jesus bring the light of God and the world prefers darkness.

“There is a conflict between the mentality of the Gospel and that of the world,” Pope Francis said. “To follow Jesus means to follow his light, which was lit on that Bethlehem night, and to abandon the darkness of the world.”

He said St. Stephen was martyred because he chose to bring the light of Christ to every person.

“By choosing the truth, he became at the same time, the victim of the mystery of evil present in the world,” the Pope said. “But in Christ, Stephen triumphed!”

Pope Francis then encouraged Christians to greater conversion to God, who comes to us in total humility at Christmas.

“In making space within our heart for the Son of God who gives himself to us at Christmas, we renew the joyous and courageous willingness to follow him faithfully as our only guide, persevering in living in accordance with the Gospel mentality and refusing the mentality of those who dominate this world,” he said.”

The Pope also remembered St. Stephen’s feast day on Twitter, tweeting “let us remember the martyrs of today and yesterday.”

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Aden, Yemen, Dec 26, 2016 / 02:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A Salesian priest kidnapped in Yemen on March 4 personally appealed for Pope Francis’ help in a video posted to YouTube Dec. 26.

“Dear Pope Francis…as a father, please take care of my life,” Father Tom Uzhunnalil said. “My health is deteriorating; I am in need of hospitalization soon. Please come to my help quickly.”

The priest also urged the Church and government in his home nation of India to come to his aid.

“Several months have gone by and my captors have made many contacts with the government of India to get me released,” the priest said. “I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard.

The five-minute video was the first communication from Fr. Tom since his abduction March 4 during an armed attack on a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, the provincial capital of Yemen. The priest had overgrown hair and spoke slowly from a prepared script.

“I request also the other bishops all over the world to come to my help to save my life,” Fr. Tom said. “I very much depressed. I request also my fellow human beings of different governments to consider me as a human person and come to my help on a humanitarian level to get me released and save my life.”

“I need your help. Please help me.”

Pope Francis did appeal for the priest’s release April 10 after his Sunday Regina Caeli address in St. Peter’s Square.

“I renew my appeal for the freeing of all kidnapped persons in armed conflict zones,” the Pope said. “In particular, I wish to remember Salesian priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Aden, Yemen last March 4.”

No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The Indian government has reportedly had difficulty brokering for the priest’s release because of political instability in Yemen.

Fr. Tom garnered international attention last spring when rumors spread that he was to be crucified on Good Friday. Those rumors were later discredited.

Yemen has been embroiled in civil war since March of 2015, when Shia rebels attempted to oust Yemen’s Sunni-led government. Saudi Arabia has led a pro-government coalition. Both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have set up strongholds in the country amid the power vacuum. More than 6,000 people have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia urged Christians to pray for Fr. Tom in a Sept. 2 interview with CNA.

“Fr. Tom…had returned to Yemen, asking me and the provincial for permission,” Bishop Paul Hinder told CNA. “I told him: ‘If you want, I will help you enter my country.’ Certainly today it’s painful to think about.”

“But I am still convinced it was right,” Bishop Hinder said. “In war you can never predict what happens.”

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