Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday lamented that Christians across the world were "imprisoned, tortured and deprived of their freedom," for their faith. "It is not uncommon today for us to receive information from various parts of the world of missionaries, priests, bishops, brothers and sisters and the lay faithful being imprisoned, tortured or deprived of their freedom," he said during Angelus prayers.
The pontiff said Christian martyrs had a unique characteristic-a sweeping love for God and mankind, "including their persecutors." The Church marks December 26 as the feast of Saint Stephen, considered the first Christian martyr, who was stoned to death in Jerusalem,according to the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles.