Pope Francis reacts - Coptic church bombing on Palm Sunday kills 21 and injures 50 more

'Women and men who are cheated, violated in their dignity, discarded.'

Pope Francis had much to share with the world on Palm Sunday.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - During his homily, Pope Francis took a moment to say Christ "is present in our many brothers and sisters who today endure sufferings like his own: they suffer from slave labour, from family tragedies, from diseases...They suffer from wars and terrorism, from interests that are armed and ready to strike."

He continued, explaining: "Women and men who are cheated, violated in their dignity and discarded...Jesus is in them, in each of them, and, with marred features and broken voice, he asks to be looked in the eye, to be acknowledged, to be loved."

This message came days after the Pontiff reacted to the chemicals dropped on Syrian civilians.

At that time, His Holiness called the slaughter "an unacceptable massacre" and said, "I firmly deplore the unacceptable carnage..."

Now, at the start of Holy Week, the Pope acknowledged the suffering around the world. He stated that Christ is in the wounded, weak and persecuted. It is our duty as Christians to see Jesus in their eyes and to do something to help.

Too often the Pope has had to pray for the victims of war, abuse, crimes against humanity, murder, kidnapping and persecution.

Even as he delivered Mass, the Vatican received word of a blast in the Nile Delta. A Coptic Christian church was targeted and 21 people were killed with 50 others injured.

"I pray for the dead and the victims," Pope Francis stated at the conclusion of his homily. "May the Lord convert the hearts of people who sow terror, violence and death and even the hearts of those who produce and traffic in weapons."

Pope Francis will pay Egypt a visit April 28 and 29 as Islamist militants continue their rampage in the country.

There have been several safety concerns for the papal trip but Pope Francis has always believed the Lord will protect him. Please pray for the continued protection for our Pope and a safe journey as he travels to Egypt later this month.

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